MELBOURNE -- Carlos Alcaraz etched his name into tennis immortality on Sunday evening at Rod Laver Arena, defeating Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in a riveting four-set final to claim his first Australian Open title and become the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam.

At just 22 years of age, Alcaraz surpassed his idol and compatriot Rafael Nadal, who was watching from the stands and was two years older when he achieved the same milestone. The victory also lifted the Spaniard to seven Grand Slam singles titles, drawing him level with legends John McEnroe and Mats Wilander on the all-time list.

The evening did not begin according to plan for the world number one. Djokovic, a 10-time champion in Melbourne, was the sharper player in the early stages, breaking Alcaraz twice and racing through the opening set in just 33 minutes. The 38-year-old Serbian, hunting an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam singles title that would take him past Margaret Court on the all-time list, looked every bit the dominant force that has ruled this tournament for over a decade.

But Alcaraz responded with the resilience and firepower that have defined his meteoric rise. He stormed back in the second set, matching Djokovic's 6-2 scoreline with a breathtaking display of speed, power, and finesse. The momentum carried into the third set, where an early break gave Alcaraz a 3-1 lead. Djokovic, visibly fatigued, struggled to contain the relentless intensity of his younger opponent, and Alcaraz took the set 6-3.

The fourth set proved to be the most dramatic chapter of the evening. Djokovic refused to go quietly, fending off six break points in a marathon second game that sent his passionate fans into raptures. The veteran showed flashes of his legendary fight, but ultimately could not deny the inevitable. At 5-6, Djokovic fired a forehand long on Alcaraz's first match point, sending the Spaniard tumbling to the ground in pure elation as the crowd erupted. The match lasted three hours and two minutes.

Alcaraz converted five of his 16 break point opportunities, while Djokovic managed just two from six. The statistics underlined a broader trend in men's tennis: Alcaraz and rival Jannik Sinner have now won the last nine consecutive Grand Slam titles between them, dating back to Djokovic's triumph at the 2023 US Open.

The victory was particularly meaningful given the upheaval in Alcaraz's camp. He arrived in Melbourne having ended his seven-year partnership with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero in December, a decision that sent shockwaves through the tennis world. In his post-match address, the champion was visibly emotional. "I think nobody knows how hard I have been working to get this trophy. I chased this moment so much," Alcaraz told the crowd.

Djokovic, gracious in defeat, walked around the net to embrace the man who increasingly looks destined to inherit his throne. The exchange of smiles and pats on the back felt like a symbolic passing of the baton between two generations of tennis greatness.

The women's final the previous day delivered its own drama, as fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina rallied from 0-3 down in the deciding set to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, claiming her second Grand Slam title and avenging her 2023 final loss at the same venue.

With both champions crowned, the 114th edition of the Australian Open will be remembered as a tournament that celebrated the relentless march of a new generation while paying tribute to the enduring brilliance of those who paved the way.