Alcaraz basks in Australian Open afterglow
Carlos Alcaraz emerges from his Career Grand Slam conquest into Melbourne’s sunlight, posing with hard-earned silver in a moment that bridges raw victory and the road ahead.
Carlos Alcaraz stepped into Melbourne’s morning light on Monday, the Carlos Alcaraz glow of his Australian Open triumph still fresh. At 22, the Spaniard clutched the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup during a photoshoot at the Royal Exhibition Building, his all-black attire cutting a sharp figure against the gardens. This casual pose masked the ferocity that had just rewritten his legacy, completing the Career Grand Slam with a first title Down Under.
Entering the tournament, he carried one burning goal: seal the set after two wins each at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, plus one at the US Open. The No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings adapted swiftly to the hard courts, his heavy topspin forehands gripping the surface to set up inside-out angles that kept rallies on his terms.
“It is a dream come true.”
Undropped sets build unyielding momentum
Alcaraz sliced through the draw without losing a set until the semifinals, his 1–2 patterns—serve wide, forehand crosscourt—dictating tempo from the baseline. The crowd at Rod Laver Arena fed off his explosive retrieves, turning early rounds into displays of controlled aggression. This foundation let him conserve energy for the deeper runs, where Melbourne’s pace amplified his footwork and turned defense into sudden down-the-line strikes.
Pressure simmered as the stakes rose, yet he thrived in the heat, his athleticism pulling him to balls that others might let go. The psychological edge came from prior Slams, where he’d learned to channel doubt into sharper focus. By the quarters, his serve held firm at over 80 percent, a quiet weapon that opened courts for his signature forehand winners.
Semifinal grind tests deepest resolve
Against Alexander Zverev, Alcaraz faced his sternest trial, rallying from 3–5 down in the fifth during a five-hour, 27-minute epic—the longest semifinal in #AustralianOpen history. He shifted to deeper returns, using underspin slices to jam Zverev’s backhand and force errors on second serves. The German’s endurance pushed back, but Alcaraz’s topspin loops kept balls dipping low, exploiting the surface’s speed for crosscourt passes that ignited the arena’s roar.
Mentally, this match honed his grit; trailing late, he drew on inner fire to extend points, his one–two punch disrupting Zverev’s rhythm. Victory here wasn’t just tactical—it rebuilt momentum, propelling him to the final with legs that felt fresher despite the toll. The crowd’s energy peaked in those final games, sensing the shift as he claimed the set.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, dressed in all black, posed with the trophy during the shoot, which took place at the Royal Exhibition Building among gardens in central Melbourne.
Just a casual stroll in the park... as a Career Grand Slam Champion #AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/uFRtkVdRtN
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 2, 2026
Final duel shatters Djokovic’s armor
In the championship clash, Alcaraz dismantled Novak Djokovic, ending the 24-time major champion’s flawless 10–0 Australian Open final record. He targeted the backhand with inside-in forehands, varying slice to pull Djokovic wide and open the court for down-the-line finishes. Their head-to-head evened at 5–5, with Alcaraz now unbeaten in three major finals against the Serb, his flatter serves penetrating where topspin might skid.
The atmosphere crackled under the lights, Djokovic’s baseline mastery meeting Alcaraz’s athletic bursts in rallies that swung on a single retrieve. This win marked his seventh major, a psychological milestone that leveled giants. Read more from the Australian Open on Carlos Alcaraz‘s Career Grand Slam: Daring tennis, defining triumph, Alcaraz dents Djokovic’s Melbourne final perfection, Alcaraz stretches Big Titles lead over Sinner, Alcaraz on Career Grand Slam: ‘It is a dream come true’, and The stunning facts tying Federer, Nadal & Alcaraz’s first Melbourne titles.
Back in the sunlight, the photoshoot offered a brief exhale, the cup’s weight a tangible reminder of paths crossed. As No. 1, Alcaraz heads to the ATP 500 in Rotterdam starting February 9, where indoor courts will demand fresh adjustments. This triumph fuels his drive, blending celebration with the quiet build toward more defining battles.
