One of the two contenders was inevitably preparing to make history. Between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, the newest won this Sunday in Melbourne. Victorious in four sets (2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5) and 3h02 of play, the world number one became the youngest player to collect four Grand Slam titles. After his two victories at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, the 22-year-old Spaniard won the Australian Open for the first time, under the eyes of Rafael Nadal.
Until now, Melbourne had always resisted “Carlitos”. Equipped with his new serving gestures, the genius of El Palmar perhaps did not expect to come across the “Djoker” so far away during this Australian Major. Even less after an epic five-set encounter against Jannik Sinner the day before. At 38, the Serbian was probably too damaged to resist the variations and legs of Alcaraz.
Seventh Grand Slam title
The 4th player in the world still found a way to take everyone by surprise at the end of the first set. At first untouchable in his service games, he subsequently got out of hand. Caught up by his body, “Nole” had to try to shorten the exchanges. The unforced errors accumulated and the points flowed in favor of his opponent.
But while the Spaniard was on course to advance to the title, Djokovic once again proved his resistance at the start of the fourth round. With six break points dismissed during his first service game, he delayed the deadline, without managing to instil doubt in the brain of his junior, one of the players most impervious to pressure on the circuit.
Alcaraz had not yet experienced a major tournament without the presence of Juan Carlos Ferrero in his box. The coach and his protégé separated in December and the passage of Samuel Lopez as head coach did not upset the Iberian. Still in his early twenties, he has already won seven Grand Slam titles.
He widens the gap with Sinner, four Majors, his main rival. Djokovic, for his part, perhaps missed his best chance of lifting a record 25th coronation. He had never lost a final in Melbourne.
