Carlos Alcaraz won the Australian Open final in Melbourne to complete a career Grand Slam, defeating Novak Djokovic 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5 on 1 February 2026 at Rod Laver Arena. The victory made the 22-year-old Spaniard the youngest male player in tennis history to win all four Grand Slam tournaments. The result also ended Djokovic’s latest attempt to secure a record-breaking 25th major singles title. The match reshapes the historical standings of men’s tennis and confirms a continued shift in generational balance at the top of the sport. This is reported by the The WP Times editorial team with reference to Australian Open.
Australian Open 2026 final: result and historical context
The Australian Open final lasted three hours and 18 minutes and marked Alcaraz’s first title in Melbourne. With the win, he claimed his seventh Grand Slam singles trophy and joined an exclusive group of nine men who have completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
At 22 years and nine months, Alcaraz surpassed the previous record for the youngest men’s career Grand Slam holder, which belonged to Rafael Nadal. He also became the first player since Novak Djokovic in 2016 to complete the full set of major titles.
For Djokovic, the defeat meant that his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam singles title continues. The Serb remains level with Margaret Court on 24 major singles titles, a record he has been trying to surpass since winning the US Open in 2023.
Match progression and key turning points
Djokovic began the final in control, taking the first set 6–2. The fourth seed used his experience and tactical discipline to dominate the early exchanges, serving with accuracy and dictating rallies from the baseline. Alcaraz struggled to find rhythm and committed a series of unforced errors under sustained pressure.
The momentum shifted early in the second set. At 1–1, a net cord helped Alcaraz secure a crucial break of serve, a moment that altered the flow of the match. From that point, Djokovic’s serving precision declined, while Alcaraz improved his consistency and depth, particularly on the forehand side.
Alcaraz won the second set 6–2 and maintained control in the third, breaking Djokovic twice to take it 6–3. The fourth set remained tight, with Djokovic saving multiple break points early on and creating chances of his own late in the set. However, at 5–5, Alcaraz broke serve and closed out the match on his first championship point after a Djokovic forehand error.
Completing the career Grand Slam
Alcaraz’s victory in Melbourne completed his collection of major titles across all surfaces. His Grand Slam titles include:
- US Open 2022
- Wimbledon 2023 and 2024
- French Open 2024 and 2025
- Australian Open 2026
Winning majors on hard, clay and grass courts confirms Alcaraz’s versatility and adaptability at the highest level. His achievement places him alongside players such as Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the history of the men’s game.
Who is Carlos Alcaraz: background and early career
Carlos Alcaraz Garfia is a Spanish professional tennis player born on 5 May 2003 in El Palmar, a district of Murcia in south-eastern Spain. He comes from a sporting family: his father, Carlos Alcaraz González, was a competitive tennis player and later worked as a tennis coach and club administrator.
Alcaraz began playing tennis at the age of four at the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia, where his father was involved in management. He later joined the Juan Carlos Ferrero Equelite Sport Academy in Villena, eastern Spain, at the age of 15. Former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero became his long-term coach and remains a central figure in his professional development.
Alcaraz turned professional in 2018. He gained international attention in 2021 after reaching the quarter-finals of the US Open as a teenager. In September 2022, after winning the US Open, he became the youngest men’s world number one in ATP rankings history.
Known for his aggressive baseline play, physical endurance and adaptability across surfaces, Alcaraz has achieved major titles on hard courts, clay and grass. By the age of 22, he had won seven Grand Slam singles titles and completed a career Grand Slam, becoming the youngest male player to do so.
As of February 2026, Alcaraz represents Spain in international competition and remains based primarily in Spain, where he continues to train during the off-season.
Djokovic and the search for a 25th major
Djokovic, aged 38, entered the final aiming to extend his all-time Grand Slam singles record. Australian Open has been his most successful tournament, with ten titles prior to the 2026 final.
His route to the final was physically demanding. In the semi-finals on 30 January, Djokovic defeated world number two Jannik Sinner in a five-set match that required significant recovery. Djokovic acknowledged after the final that the physical demands of consecutive matches against younger opponents played a role.
Following the match, Djokovic told the crowd that he was uncertain whether he would return to compete in Melbourne in future seasons, highlighting the unpredictable nature of his career at this stage.
Alcaraz vs Djokovic: final comparison
| Player | Age | Grand Slam titles | Australian Open titles | ATP ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz | 22 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Novak Djokovic | 38 | 24 | 10 | 4 |
The comparison highlights the generational contrast between the two finalists and the evolving hierarchy at the top of men’s tennis.
A defining rivalry in men’s tennis
The Melbourne final added another chapter to the growing rivalry between Alcaraz and Djokovic, which has defined several major tournaments in recent seasons. Their matches have frequently carried significant implications for rankings, titles and historical records.
Djokovic praised Alcaraz’s consistency and development after the final, while Alcaraz pointed to mental resilience and tactical adjustments following the opening set as decisive factors in the outcome.
Broader implications for the men’s tour
Alcaraz’s Australian Open victory reinforces the transition underway in men’s tennis. Alongside Jannik Sinner, he has dominated the Grand Slam landscape over the past two seasons, with the pair winning the last nine major titles between them.
For Djokovic, the result underlines the increasing challenge of sustaining dominance against younger players across successive rounds of Grand Slam tournaments. While his performance in Melbourne confirmed his continued competitiveness, the margin for error at this stage of his career is narrowing.
For the sport as a whole, the final confirmed a new phase in the men’s game, where emerging leaders are consolidating their positions while established champions continue to compete at the highest level.
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