Carlos Alcaraz capped a historic Australian Open campaign by defeating Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final, clinching his maiden title at Melbourne Park and completing a career Grand Slam at just 22.

The world No. 1 recovered from a slow start to beat the 10-time Australian Open champion 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in a high-quality four-set contest on Rod Laver Arena .

Djokovic, bidding for a record 25th Grand Slam title, dominated the opening set but was gradually outplayed as Alcaraz raised his intensity and controlled rallies with superior movement and shot selection. The Spaniard took charge from the second set onward, repeatedly stretching Djokovic and capitalising on key moments, particularly in the tense fourth set where he held firm to close out the match .

The victory made Alcaraz the youngest male player in the Open Era to win all four Grand Slam titles and only the ninth man in history to achieve the career Grand Slam. It was also his first Australian Open crown and seventh major title overall, reinforcing his status at the forefront of men’s tennis as a new era continues to take shape .

For Djokovic, the defeat marked his first loss in an Australian Open final, bringing an end to his perfect record in Melbourne championship matches. Despite the setback, the 38-year-old once again demonstrated his longevity at the top of the sport, even as the spotlight increasingly shifts to the sport’s younger generation led by Alcaraz .