Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first Australian Open title with a commanding four-set victory over Novak Djokovic, defeating the Serbian 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday. The win not only denied Djokovic a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam but also made Alcaraz the youngest man in the Open era to complete a career Grand Slam. At just 22, the Spaniard surpassed compatriot Rafael Nadal, who was present in the crowd, to achieve the feat at a younger age.After a slow start in which Djokovic dominated the opening set with vintage authority, Alcaraz raised his intensity and took control of the match. He broke early in the second set, saved key break points, and overwhelmed Djokovic with pace, power, and relentless movement to level the contest. From there, Alcaraz steadily asserted his dominance, winning extended rallies and forcing errors as Djokovic’s energy began to dip following his gruelling semi-final against Jannik Sinner.The third set hinged on a single break, with Alcaraz converting his fifth set point to move ahead. Djokovic showed trademark resilience in the fourth, saving multiple break points and battling through a long opening game, but Alcaraz continued to apply pressure. When Djokovic served to stay in the match, the Spaniard pounced, sealing victory and his seventh Grand Slam title.The loss marked Djokovic’s first defeat in an Australian Open final, having won all 10 of his previous appearances in Melbourne. Still chasing a historic 25th major, the 38-year-old remains behind Margaret Court’s all-time record. For Alcaraz, the triumph cements his status as world number one, with Sinner second and Djokovic rising to third in the rankings, and signals a definitive passing of the torch in men’s tennis.
