Melbourne | Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz made tennis history by defeating Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to win the 2026 Australian Open men’s singles title. Following the triumph, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar lauded Alcaraz for his “patience and calm demeanor” throughout the tournament.
Youngest Male Player to Complete Career Grand Slam
At just 22 years and 272 days old, Alcaraz became the youngest male professional to achieve a career Grand Slam, winning all four major tournaments—Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. He also became only the eighth player in tennis history to achieve this feat, joining the ranks of Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz’s victory over Djokovic marked the Serbian’s first defeat in an Australian Open final in 11 attempts. With this win, Alcaraz now has seven Grand Slam singles titles, equalling tennis legends John McEnroe and Mats Wilander on the all-time list.
Sachin Tendulkar’s Praise
Posting on social media platform X, Sachin Tendulkar wrote:
“What stood out at the Australian Open was Carlos Alcaraz’s patience. In long rallies, he remained calm, applied pressure on his opponent, and chose his opportunities wisely. Watching him cover the court with such speed and precision was a delight. Congratulations to Carlos Alcaraz, and well done to Novak Djokovic for a fantastic effort.”
Dominance in Recent Grand Slams
Alcaraz’s win in Melbourne underscores his dominance in recent Grand Slam tournaments alongside top rival Jannik Sinner, with the duo collectively winning nine of the last major titles. Although Sinner fell to Djokovic in the 2026 Australian Open semi-final, Alcaraz continued his remarkable run of form.
Alcaraz’s Grand Slam Journey
Prior to the Australian Open victory, Alcaraz had won Wimbledon (2023, 2024), French Open (2024, 2025), and US Open (2022). By securing the Australian Open, he completed the career Grand Slam and broke an 88-year-old record set by Don Budge, who achieved the milestone at 22 years and 363 days old.
Alcaraz’s historic achievement not only marks a new era in men’s tennis but also cements his status as one of the sport’s brightest young stars.
