Carlos Alcaraz is the 2026 Australian Open men’s singles champion.
In four sets, Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, to win his first Australian Open title.
The win sees the Spaniard join an exclusive club of players who have won all four major titles.
Becoming the youngest-ever player to complete the Career Grand Slam, Alcaraz wrote his name into the history books.
Who finishes their career on more majors – Alcaraz or Djokovic?
He didn’t have things all his own way, though, as his opponent, Djokovic, looked in complete control during the first set.
Speaking to Channel 9 after the match, Alcaraz admitted the Serb surprised him in the early stages of their Australian Open final.
Carlos Alcaraz says ‘nothing worked’ for him against Novak Djokovic in the first set
“He surprised me a little bit at the start of the match, because we had something in mind of how to play against Novak [Djokovic] at the beginning,” said Alcaraz.
“But all of a sudden, nothing worked!
“As hard as I was playing him, the harder the ball would come back, and more into the lines.
“I didn’t even know what I had to do at the beginning.”
Alcaraz was happy to turn things around early in the second set.
“But after the first set, one point can change everything,” he said.
“At the beginning of the second set, he made a few easy mistakes, and I was more comfortable, or calmer, to play against him.
“So I changed the tactics a little bit, and it was great, so really happy that I found it at the beginning of the second set.”
Are you more or less confident that Novak Djokovic can win his 25th Grand Slam now?
Eventually coming through in four sets, Alcaraz was delighted to complete the Career Grand Slam.
“It feels like a dream come true,” he said.
“I dreamt of winning the Australian Open, completing the Career Grand Slam.
“I’m lost for words right now, I don’t even know what to say, but it feels crazy to be honest.”
How Rafael Nadal inspired Carlos Alcaraz to Australian Open glory
After winning his semifinal match in five hours and 27 minutes, Alcaraz didn’t practice the day before the Australian Open final.
“It was chilling! I didn’t do anything at all,” he said.
“I just went to the gym a little bit to work, but that’s it.
“Went to the swimming pool, I didn’t set an alarm clock, just tried to sleep as much as I could, had a good lunch, and a good rest in the afternoon.
“It was more about being well-prepared mentally than other stuff.”
Alcaraz admitted he was fatigued for the final, but was mentally strong enough to push through.
“My body felt a little bit tight, to be honest, fatigued,” he said.
“It was fatigue, but as I have said many times, when you play the final of a Grand Slam, it doesn’t matter how many hours you’ve played that week, how you feel physically, all you have to say is that you’re well prepared mentally.
“If you’re strong mentally, positive, and approach the match in the right way mentally, everything is going to come.”
Alcaraz then commented on his countryman Rafael Nadal’s appearance and shared how the 22-time Grand Slam champion inspired him to beat Djokovic in the final.
“This moment is really special, having Rafa [Nadal] in the stands, it made it even more special, to be honest,” he said.
“Lifting the trophy for the first time in Australia in front of Rafa was crazy, to be honest.
“After the semifinal, I thought about that semifinal in 2009, he played against [Fernando] Verdasco, then he came back physically and played such a great final against [Roger] Federer and won.”
“So I was thinking a little bit about it, thinking about how I feel physically, it’s just about pushing through.
“Having him there gave me some good spirit, good mindset.”
If having Nadal there helped Alcaraz produce that level of performance, he’ll hope the 22-time Grand Slam champion joins him for the next major tournament, too.
The 2026 French Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday, May 24.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
