Sports News

Alcaraz beats Djokovic in Melbourne to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam

Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in the Australian Open men's final at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, 1 February. The 22-year-old Spaniard won his first title in Melbourne, his seventh major, and became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam. The match lasted three hours and two minutes, Al Jazeera reported.

Djokovic, 38, had won all 10 of his previous Melbourne finals. A win would have given him a record 25th major title, one more than Margaret Court. He stays on 24.

“It means the world to me and shows that all the hard work paid off.” — Carlos Alcaraz, via Al Jazeera

Outlook India put a number on the record: at 22 years and 272 days, Alcaraz beat the mark Don Budge set in 1938 and became the ninth man to hold all four major singles titles. It noted he converted 5 of 16 break points, that he now works with Samuel Lopez after parting with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, and that Rafael Nadal watched from the stands. It also carried Djokovic's tribute, calling the feat “historic, legendary”.

The Nightly in Australia headlined a “historic grand slam” sealed against the most successful man in the tournament's history.

How each outlet framed it

• Al Jazeera — Djokovic's first Melbourne final defeat and his wait for a 25th major.
• Outlook India — the record books: Budge's 1938 mark, break-point numbers, the new coaching team.
• The Nightly — the home-crowd view: a historic night at Melbourne Park.

What we don't know yet: whether Djokovic will get another chance at 25. “God knows what happens tomorrow, let alone in six or 12 months,” he told reporters, via Al Jazeera.