Carlos Alcaraz conquers Novak Djokovic to achieve Career Slam and break Rafael Nadal's 16-year record
Heading into this year's Australian Open the illustrious Career Slam group in the Open Era consisted of Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Welcome to the club, Carlos Alcaraz.
At 22 years and 278 days, Alcaraz has become the youngest player to win all four Grand Slams after defeating Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in the 2026 Australian Open final, surpassing the record previously set by Nadal when he claimed the 2010 US Open at the age of 24 years and 88 days.
History was going to be rewritten whatever the outcome at Melbourne Park as Alcaraz endeavoured to achieve the one Grand Slam that had so far eluded his phenomenal career, while Djokovic was on the hunt for a record-extending 25th Major crown which would have made him the oldest male Grand Slam champion in the Open Era.
Both players had come through gruelling five-set semi-final thrillers against Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner respectively, and it was evident that Djokovic required a strong start after his marathon effort to end Sinner's Australian Open reign.
That he did, sprinting out of the blocks in a scintillating opening set which lasted just 38 minutes, dropping just two points on serve as Alcaraz struggled to muster a response.
But the interval between the first and second set presented Alcaraz with an opportunity to reset and unearth an answer. Adopting a more aggressive approach to tackle Djokovic's serve, he found a break in the third game to haul him back into the contest.
Where Alcaraz upped his levels significantly, Djokovic's accuracy deteriorated and the Spaniard was able to capitalise on a combination of unforced errors and inviting shots.
Alcaraz ultimately cantered to the second set as Djokovic tactically preserved energy knowing this wouldn't be where the match was won or lost. But the reigning French Open and US Open champion is an indomitable force with momentum behind him, and Djokovic was left to rue more Alcaraz magic and a costly double fault in his third service game.
Just when you thought Djokovic was out of ideas as Alcaraz mercilessly danced to the third set with an array of exquisite forehands and sumptuous drop shots, the Serbian dug deep to stifle his opponent in the fourth set and prevent him from racing away.
Every time Alcaraz appeared to have carved an opening, a defiant Djokovic slammed the door shut. But just as the fourth set appeared to be heading for a tie-break, fatigue crept into Djokovic's game as he served to stay into the match. A skewed forehand and a shot into the net handed Alcaraz championship point, and he grasped it with both hands.
Records have tumbled for Alcaraz in Melbourne, the one location where his mesmerising talent had failed to translate to success on court.
Prior to 2026 he'd never gone further than the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, but the manner in which he swatted aside his opponents in the early rounds suggested this was the Spaniard's best chance to amend his previous shortcomings.
In breaking his Melbourne duck, Alcaraz has achieved his seventh Grand Slam title from just 20 tournaments; over 30 per cent of all the major main-draw singles events he’s contested. To put the magnitude of his achievement into perspective, Djokovic won his seventh Grand Slam title in the 39th Major he entered.
If the floodgates were not already open, they most certainly are now.
