CARLOS ALCARAZ has become the youngest man in Tennis history to win the Career Grand Slam in the Open Era, after winning the Australian Open yesterday morning. The world no.1 defeated 10-time champion Novak Djokovic in four sets 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.
History was guaranteed during yesterday’s showdown at the Rod Laver Arena. Djokovic was battling for his record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, as well as a record-extending 11th AO trophy.
The man who beat him was playing to become the youngest to ever win all four major titles, and becomes only the ninth man in the sport’s history to achieve this.
‘The Big Three’ make up a third of that list, alongside Andre Agassi, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Fred Perry and Don Bulge.
There’s something that Djokovic can be slightly happy about though, as he climbs up the ATP singles rankings to third, after his victory over Jannik Sinner in the semi-final, who remains second.
Alexander Zverev drops down to fourth after his 5 hour 27 minute semi-final loss to the champion, which was the longest semi-final ever in the tournament’s history.
Alcaraz then claimed his first Australian Open and the seventh Grand Slam title of his career, breaking yet another record to become the youngest man to win seven Grand Slams at 22 years and 9 months old.
The Spaniard steals the crown from Sweden’s Bjorn Borg, who was 23 years old when the he won title number seven. He’s also now won the most major singles titles before the age of 23 than any other man during the Open Era.
This victory also means that Alcaraz is now chasing the Double Career Grand Slam. He’s won each of the other tournaments twice already, and if he defends his title down under, he will reach this milestone at just 23 years old – Novak Djokovic achieved this feat at 34, Rafael Nadal at 35.
2026 beckons history for Carlitos, as he’s put himself in good stead to win the Calendar Slam, where he could join Rod Laver and Don Bulge as only the third man in history to win all four major singles championships in one year.
Alcaraz actually stopped Djokovic from doing this in 2023, after beating him in the Wimbledon final which earned him his first major title.
This time next year, Alcaraz could be forever immortalised in the history of Tennis.
