Carlos Alcaraz is already a legend at the age of 22 years and 272 days. The Spaniard continues to write his story, in his own way, after completing the Grand Slam circle at the Australian Open. For such a special occasion, it will always be written on February 1, 2026, he had in front of him Novak Djokovic, the best player who has wielded a racket regardless of this result
That makes the feat of the young man from El Palmar even greater, as he is the youngest to inscribe his name in the four major venues. He closed a favorable score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 and 7-5, in 3 hours and two minutes. Alcaraz won with a long forehand from Novak, which was lost by one of the backboards.
No one had reached seven majors at such a young age. Carlitos will be in tennis what he wants to be. The Big Three has long since made room for him at its table because his numbers surpass those of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal before the age of 23.
Fate wanted his idolized Nadal to be watching him win from the front row. Rafa now has company on the list
It had been 875 days since Nole’s last Grand Slam, on the hard courts of the US Open. Many wonder why he is still playing. Well, for the chance to win finals like the one in Australia.
The sensations for Alcaraz were not the best from the first point. He wore a bandage on his right thigh as a result of the epic semifinal with Alexander Zverev.The tournament had gone Nole’s way from the last 16, when he received the news that he was going straight through to the quarter-finals due to the withdrawal of Jakub Mensik (abdominal). Then came the second withdrawal, this time from Lorenzo Musetti when he was two sets down. The luck of the future champion.
Djokovic won the opening set because he touched the ball more and better. He broke his opponent’s serve twice, who was erratic from the back of the court. It was cold in the capital of Victoria after two weeks of heat
The rain held the outdoor match in check and it was being played in 14 degrees and an uncomfortable wind. Sun cream had given way to coats. Samuel Lopez’s pupil defied the elements with his sleeveless jersey.Carlitos showed signs of life with his first break in the third game of the continuation. Novak almost broke back immediately afterwards. The Spaniard encouraged the masses. He knew that the clock was playing in his favor. Anything that prolonged the outcome was in his favor for biological reasons.Unforced errors changed the match and Alcaraz paid him back with the same result in the second set. Djokovic’s inspiration and freshness had gone.
He had no choice but to stop the pace of the final and went to the locker room. It took five minutes and, when he did, the center court was practically closed because of the threat of a storm.
This is what the Open supervisor told the player from El Palmar. Djokovic, of course, was hoping for rain as soon as possible. His indoor hard court records are impressive: 202 wins and 50 losses. The rain finally held off.The winner of the third set was going to have half of the Norman Brookes trophy in his pocket. And that was the world number one, who accompanied his third break with a resounding “yes”.
Alcaraz was already starting to slide on the blue cement as if it were clay. His legs were levitating around Rod Laver Arena. Nole was holding on as best he could
Six break points lost
Djokovic had his moment to get back into the match, with 4-4 and advantage to the rest in the fourth set. The crowd encouraged him because they wanted more tennis to make up for the more than $1,000 it cost to get in
“Talk to yourself, talk to yourself,” the champion was told from his bench. He had missed six break points
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