Carlos Alcaraz wins the Australian Open for the first time and becomes the youngest tennis player ever (at 22 years and 272 days) to win the Career Grand Slam, i.e. having triumphed at least once in his career in all four majors. At the Rod Laver Arena the Spaniard beat Novak Djokovic in four sets with a score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, with Nole who saw the goal of his 25th Slam title slip away but from Monday he will be the new number 3 in the world (THE STORY ON SKY SPORT).
The chronicle of the match
The first set was dominated by Djokovic who won 6-2 in 33 minutes, with only two points lost on serve. In the second set, however, the Serbian drops noticeably, the Spaniard wins two breaks and gives back the 6-2 in 36 minutes. The third set, however, lasts 51 minutes, ending 6-3 for Alcaraz: the Spaniard finds the break in the 5th and 9th games. In the second game of the fourth set Djokovic cancels five break points, then in the 9th game Carlos avoids the danger, also thanks to some errors from Nole in the decisive moments. In the 12th game the Spaniard finds the break, closes at 7-5 and takes home the title. For Alcaraz it is the seventh Slam trophy out of eight finals played (the only one to beat him in a challenge for a Major title was Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon last year)
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Alcaraz: “I chased this goal, Nole you inspire”
“Novak, what you do inspires me. I am honored to have shared the pitch and the locker rooms with you, thank you for everything you do. You are a great inspiration”, are Alcaraz’s first words during the awards ceremony. “Thanks to my team: only you know how hard I worked to achieve this goal – underlined the tennis no. 1 – The preseason was a roller coaster, we kept our heads down and worked hard. You pushed me every day to do the right things and I am very grateful to each of you. This trophy is yours. It’s strange to see Rafa (Nadal ed.) in the stands: I’m honored to have shared training sessions with you, seeing you is a privilege. Thanks to everyone who makes this tournament fantastic, I’m happy to come back every year. The love I feel in Australia is fantastic, both on and off the pitch. I thank you for pushing me through difficult times. I can’t wait to come back next year.”
Djokovic: “Carlos, what you did is historic”
“Congratulations Carlos, the best word for what you have done is ‘historic’. I wish you the best for the rest of your career. You are very young, like me… I hope we will see each other many more times in the coming years,” Djokovic said after the final. “Mine has been a great journey, I don’t know what will happen in the next few months”, he then added to the public. “In these last two matches you have given me what I had never had in Australia, support and positivity – continued the Serbian champion – I have to be honest, I didn’t think I would still be here in a closing ceremony of a Slam. You helped me play two matches that I never thought I would play against Jannik and against Carlos”. “I thank my team who put up with me. It hasn’t been a peaceful journey but you are my rock”, concluded Djokovic, who then also turned to Rafa Nadal, present in the stands: “It was an honor to share the court with you and now to see you in the stands together with the public, I thank you”.
