Carlos Alcaraz etched his name into tennis immortality on February 1 at Rod Laver Arena, defeating Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to claim the 2026 Australian Open title and become the youngest man in history to complete a career Grand Slam.

At 22 years and 272 days old, the Spanish world No. 1 shattered a record that had stood since 1938, when American Don Budge completed his own career Grand Slam at Roland Garros just before his 23rd birthday. Alcaraz is now the ninth man overall to achieve the feat, and the first to seal it on the hard courts of Melbourne Park.

The three-hour, two-minute final under the open roof of Rod Laver Arena was a match of shifting momentum. Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, stormed through the first set 6-2 with the kind of clinical precision that has defined his legendary career. For a moment, it seemed the 10-time Australian Open champion would add yet another chapter to his own record book.

But Alcaraz responded with the resilience and shot-making brilliance that have become his trademarks. He seized control in the second set, breaking Djokovic's serve multiple times to level the match at one set apiece. The third set followed a similar pattern, with Alcaraz dictating play to take a two-sets-to-one lead.

The fourth set provided the drama that befits a Grand Slam final. Djokovic fought desperately to force a decider, earning four set points that threatened to extend the contest. But Alcaraz saved each one with nerves of steel before converting on his championship points to seal a historic victory.

Nobody knows how hard I have been working to get this trophy. I just chased this moment so much, an emotional Alcaraz said during the trophy ceremony. The Spaniard, who now holds seven Grand Slam singles titles, two each at the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open plus this maiden Australian Open crown, is also the youngest man in the Open Era to reach that total.

Djokovic, gracious in defeat as he extended his finals record against Alcaraz to 0-3, offered high praise for his conqueror. What he has achieved is historic, legendary, the Serbian champion said.

Rafael Nadal, the man who preceded Alcaraz as the standard-bearer of Spanish tennis, watched from the stands as his compatriot joined him in the exclusive career Grand Slam club. Notably, Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner now hold the last nine consecutive Grand Slam men's singles titles between them, signaling a definitive changing of the guard at the top of men's tennis.

The tennis world barely has time to catch its breath. The 2026 BNP Paribas Open entry lists were released on February 4, confirming that Alcaraz will headline the Indian Wells field alongside Djokovic, Sinner, and defending champion Jack Draper. On the women's side, newly crowned Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, who defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a thrilling Melbourne final, will also feature at Indian Wells alongside the world No. 1 Sabalenka.

For Alcaraz, however, no upcoming tournament can diminish what he accomplished on that sunlit afternoon in Melbourne. At 22, he has already completed what many of the greatest players in history never managed. The question is no longer whether Carlos Alcaraz belongs among the all-time greats. It is how high he will climb.