Highlights: Alcaraz beats Djokovic to complete career Grand Slam
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Carlos Alcaraz revealed how he was inspired by Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open heroics after beating Novak Djokovic to win the title in Melbourne.
Alcaraz, 22, became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam after beating Djokovic in four sets.
The match was watched on Rod Laver Arena by all-time great Nadal, who had said beforehand that he would be rooting for his fellow Spaniard to triumph.Nadal congratulated Alcaraz following the win as the pair shared a hug and exchanged warm words.”I mean, this moment is really special, but having Rafa in the stands, it made it even more special to be honest,” Alcaraz told 9News.
Both Alcaraz and Djokovic had been pushed to five sets in the semi-finals.
Alcaraz recovered from cramp to overcome Alexander Zverev in a five-hour epic and didn’t appear to show any signs of being physically hampered in the final.
He said he drew inspiration from a similar situation involving Nadal at the 2009 Australian Open.
Nadal battled past Fernando Verdasco in a gruelling semi-final that lasted five hours and 14 minutes, before then beating Roger Federer in the final.
Watch ‘special’ moment as Nadal congratulates Alcaraz
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“After the semi-final, I just thought about that semi-final in 2009 he played against Verdasco, and then he came back physically and played such a great final against Federer and won,” said Alcaraz.
“So I was thinking a little bit about it. It’s just about pushing through and having him there, I was like watching him and he gave me some good spirit, good mindset.”
Alcaraz has now won seven Grand Slam titles, moving him level with Mats Wilander and John McEnroe in the all-time standings.
Aged just 22, TNT Sports expert Tim Henman said it is not “unrealistic” to think Alcaraz could challenge Djokovic’s total of 24 majors.
Highlights: Alcaraz beats Djokovic to complete career Grand Slam
Video credit: TNT Sports
Alcaraz was asked whether his Melbourne triumph can lead to him dreaming of winning all four Grand Slams this year.
“It’s going to be a big challenge,” he replied. “Those are big words. I just want it to be one at a time. Right now, the next one is French Open. I have great memories in that tournament. I feel really special every time that I go there.
“So I don’t want to put myself in a really pressure position to have to do it, but it’s going to be great.
“Right now I will try to be ready, to work hard, to just recover and practice well to play a good tournament in the next Grand Slam.”
Alcaraz hails ‘really inspiring’ Djokovic after winning Australian Open
Video credit: TNT Sports
The 2026 French Open, which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+, starts on May 24.
As well as defending his title there, Alcaraz says he has other targets, including winning the last three Masters events missing from his collection in Canada, Shanghai and Paris.
“I hate losing, so that’s my motivation,” he said. “There are some tournaments that I really want to win at least once.
“A few Masters 1000 I just really want to complete all the Masters 1000, trying to win at least once every Masters.
“Obviously the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup. The Davis Cup, it is a goal as well. I really wanted to achieve that for my country, for Spain. I set up some other goals for the season, and I will try to get those goals.”
Reflecting on the final against Djokovic, Alcaraz said he had to maintain his belief after being broken twice to lose the first set.
“Tennis can change, just one point. One point, one feeling, one shot can change the whole match completely.
“The first set, I think he played great. I was hitting the ball well. I was moving well. I think all I can say I played well the first set, but in front of me I had a great and inspired Novak, who was playing great, great shots.
“In the second set I think the first game he made a few easy mistakes that he hadn’t had in the first set, so that gave me a lot of calm, and I believe that the match could change a little bit if I stayed there mentally strong or mentally positive, trying to be solid, I just change a little bit tactically what already didn’t work in the first set.
“I changed a little bit, and I think that that helped a lot to get into the match again and I feel comfortable and calmer in the match.”
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