In a historic night at Rod Laver Arena, Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to capture a career Grand Slam by earning the Australian Open 2026 men’s singles championship.
The world No.1 overcame 10-time AO champion Novak Djokovic 2-6 6-2 6-3 7-5 to secure his maiden AO crown and etch his name onto the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup for the first time.
By claiming victory in three hours and two minutes, the 22-year-old smashed a record held by Don Budge since Roland Garros 1938 when the American achieved a career Grand Slam days before his 23rd birthday. Alcaraz is also the youngest man in the Open Era to own seven Grand Slam singles titles, bettering Bjorn Borg’s achievement at the age of 23.
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Conquering Djokovic, coincidentally the last player to complete a career Grand Slam at 2016 Roland Garros, makes the Spaniard just the ninth man to complete the career Grand Slam and first to mark the occasion at the AO.
Alcaraz revealed that he’d ridden an emotional rollercoaster ahead of his AO 2026 campaign.
“Nobody knows how hard I’ve been working to get this trophy – I just chased this moment so much," he said.
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The world No.1 paid his respects to Djokovic.
“I enjoy so much watching you play, for me, it’s been an honour sharing the locker, sharing the court,” said Alcaraz.
“Thank you very much for what you’re doing because as I said, this is really inspiring.”
The Serb, cradling the AO finalist's silverware for the first time, credited his younger rival’s momentous achievement.
STATS: Alcaraz upends 88-year record to complete career Slam
“Congratulations Carlos, an amazing tournament … what you’ve been doing is, I think the best word to describe it is historic, legendary,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic held a 5-4 advantage over Alcaraz leading into the 10th instalment of their rivalry which boasts a 16-year age gap, the second-widest in Open Era major men’s singles finals.
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The fourth seed was arguably fresher, reaching his first major final since Wimbledon 2024 by spending four hours less on court than his younger foe as a result of a fourth-round walkover and an injury-forced retirement by fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals.
Under an open roof, watched by 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and urged on by fan chants of “Vamos Carlitos” and “Adje Nole,” the two warriors conceded a combined two points on serve through the first three games.
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In the fourth game, Alcaraz saved break points with his trusty drop shot and a sensational forehand winner. But Djokovic, hunting for his first major since the 2023 US Open, lived up to his reputation as one of the best returners in the sport and seized his third break point, sending Serbian fans into a frenzy.
The 38-year-old, hoping to extend his unblemished 10-0 record in AO finals, consolidated the break with ease for a 4-1 lead.
Facing break points at 2-5, Alcaraz conceded the set, unable to put a blistering forehand return from fourth seed in play.
Alcaraz, the youngest man to reach all four major finals in the Open Era, earned his first break of the match when Djokovic punched a backhand volley wide to surrender the third game of the second set. The Spaniard then saved a break point before consolidating for a 3-1 lead, celebrating with a mighty fist pump and roar of “Vamos!”
Locked in, the top seed broke Djokovic again for a 5-2 lead and captured the set with a 200km/h serve that his rival returned into the net.
Early in the third, Alcaraz won one of the night’s best points by retrieving a no-look defensive backhand from Djokovic that flew past the net post. The top seed put his finger to his ear and was showered by applause as his elder rival rested his hands on his waist in disbelief.
In the next game, aided by Djokovic’s first double fault of the match, Alcaraz broke for a 3-2 lead.
Serving at 3-5, the Serbian fourth seed saved four set points before conceding the set with a misfired backhand-down-the-line.
As the temperature dipped to a tournament-low of 14 degrees Celsius, Alcaraz kept the heat on Djokovic but was unable to convert six break points in the 38-year-old’s opening service game.
In the ninth game, the world No.1 drowned out deafening support for his rival to save break point before holding for a 5-4 lead.
As Djokovic served at 5-6 to take the match into a decisive tiebreak, Alcaraz gained the upper hand by winning a nail-biting 24-stroke rally.
Two errors from the Serb handed the top seed championship points and on the first, as soon as Djokovic’s forehand sailed out, Alcaraz fell to the ground and covered his face with his hands, soaking in the sweet taste of victory.
By prevailing, the 22-year-old extended his record over Djokovic in major finals to 3-0 and preserved a streak he owns alongside Jannik Sinner.
The duo captured the last nine Grand Slam men’s singles titles, matching dominance achieved by Djokovic and Nadal between 2010 Roland Garros and 2012 Roland Garros and trailing only the 11 titles amassed by Nadal and Roger Federer between 2005 Roland Garros and the 2007 US Open.