Carlos Alcaraz made history after winning his first Australian Open title on Sunday.
With Alcaraz’s triumph over Novak Djokovic in the championship match at Melbourne Park, he became the youngest player in history to complete the Career Grand Slam.
The Spaniard, aged just 22, claimed his seventh major title, equalling the tallies of tennis legends John McEnroe and Mats Wilander.
Who finishes their career on more majors – Alcaraz or Djokovic?
He denied Djokovic a record-extending 25th Grand Slam crown in the process, with the Serb losing in an Australian Open final for the first time in his career.
In his post-match press conference, Alcaraz revealed what Djokovic said to him after the match.
What Novak Djokovic said to Carlos Alcaraz after losing to him
“I mean, he just told me, Congratulations, you deserve it,” said Alcaraz, who captured his 25th ATP title.
“I just told him, like, it is always a pleasure. It is always a pleasure to share the court with him, even more especially if it is in a final for [a] Grand Slam.
“Doesn’t matter if this time I won. You know, every time that I’m able to feel that aura from him on the other side of the net, for me it’s a privilege.
“It’s an honour, and it is like a master class for me to try to learn as much as I can.
“I have huge respect to him as an athlete, as a person, and I’m just really grateful to be able to live experiences on and off the court. That embrace was about respect, I guess.”
Carlos Alcaraz confirms the next tattoo he will get after winning the Australian Open
When asked what tattoo he plans to get after his Australian Open victory, Alcaraz responded: “I’ve said it’s going to be a kangaroo, for sure, a little kangaroo.
“I don’t know where it’s going to be. It’s going to be in the leg, for sure. I don’t know the right, the left one.
Grade Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open performance out of 10…
“So I got to choose a good spot, but it’s going to be for sure close to the French Open or Wimbledon. I just have to choose (smiling).”
Alcaraz is carving out one of the greatest careers of all time, but the now-seven-time major champion says he can never find the time to appreciate what he has achieved so far.
“I’m going to say tennis really beautiful, but what the bad part of tennis, it is we have tournaments week after week after week, and sometimes you don’t realize what you’ve been doing lately,” he explained.
“Because you know, once you finish tournament, you got to be prepared or your mind is about, you know, going to the next tournament.
“So sometimes you don’t stop yourself and think about what you’re doing. What I’ve learned, you know, this year is about appreciate and enjoy every single second of the moment you’re living.
“Not only lifting the trophies, but playing tournaments, playing tennis, getting victories, getting losses. Whatever it is, just enjoy and appreciate the life you’re living.
“So right now I’m just trying to have a time to realize what I’ve been doing. Yeah, I know I’m doing history with some trophies, some tournaments, some achievement that I’ve been getting. For me it’s an honor to put my name on the history books.”
Alcaraz has now won three of the last four Grand Slam tournaments he has entered, having gone all the way at Roland Garros and the US Open last season.
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