Carlos Alcaraz had a message for his critics after completing a piece of tennis history with a thrilling victory over Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final on Sunday.
Australian Open Final, Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic Highlights
At just 22, Alcaraz became the youngest man ever to complete a career grand slam, he achieved what no male player before him had done, lifting the Australian Open trophy to add to his Wimbledon, US Open and French Open titles.
Alcaraz admitted to the Spanish media after his four-set triumph that his thoughts immediately turned to those who doubted him before the tournament.
“To be honest, right now I’m thinking about the people who said I couldn’t do it,” Alcaraz said. “That I wouldn’t succeed, that I would come to Australia and not get past the quarter-finals, that I wouldn’t play good tennis – those who didn’t believe in me.”
Alcaraz admitted that even he was surprised by the reaction.
“It seems ironic because in theory I should be thinking about my people, my team, all the work we’ve done,” he added. “But the mindset – that’s what came to my mind. I didn’t come here to prove anything to anyone. I came with enthusiasm and a strong desire to prove to myself that I can overcome problems and be mentally strong.”
The final itself required every ounce of that resilience. Chasing an unprecedented 25th major title, Djokovic raced through the opening set 6-2 in just 33 minutes and looked set to extend his unblemished 10-0 record in the Melbourne Park final.
But Alcaraz rallied. A handful of early unforced errors from Djokovic in the second set allowed the Spaniard to level and from there he matched the Serbian’s shot, extending his serve and applying relentless pressure. Alcaraz leveled the match and then broke through when Djokovic hesitated briefly.
Even as Djokovic threatened a late comeback in the fourth set, egging on the crowd and creating break chances, Alcaraz held firm. A narrow escape followed by a flurry of fearless shooting carried him over the line 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.
Eventually, Victory of Alcaraz it wasn’t just a triumph of talent, but of faith — and a stark reminder to those who questioned whether he was ready for sports’ biggest stage.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 1, 2026
