VAMOS: Alcaraz ends Djoker’s AO dream, breaks Rafa record with career grand slam

The Serb, so clutch in the pressure points in his semi-final win over Jannik Sinner, needed three but eventually earned the early edge with help from a net cord saving him mid-rally.

Djokovic quickly consolidated for 4-1 with Alcaraz starting to press harder – with Jim Courier fearing on commentary that was related to the Spaniard’s fitness.

“I’m not sure that pressing is the right move for Alcaraz, unless he’s not trusting his legs,” Courier said.

Todd Woodbridge added: “There’s a subdued look on his face. He’s a little shell-shocked early on.”

With Djokovic’s serve impenetrable, the set already looked like his, but instead a massive forehand and wicked return earned a second break and the set 6-2 in just 33 minutes.

Alcaraz had his first real look at the Djokovic serve in the opening game of the second set, but the danger at 0-30 was quickly snuffed out.

The danger increased in the ensuing Djokovic service game, with the world No.1 earning his first two break points of the match. After saving 16 of 18 against Sinner in the semis, he conceded the very first one against Alcaraz.

Djokovic had more unforced errors in the first two games of the second set than in the entire first set, also showing reduced speeds on either wing.

Alcaraz saved a break point before consolidating for 3-1, and was then untroubled on route to a 6-2 second set win.

It took less than 70 minutes to get through two sets; some single sets have lasted longer than that at this tournament.

As Djokovic took an attire change break Alcaraz complained to the chair umpire and tournament referee about the decision to partially close the roof, calling it “unfair” the players didn’t know what was going on.

The Spaniard still appeared more energetic entering the third set though Djokovic still had plenty in the tank, as after a pair of love holds, he nearly won an absurd point whipping one around the net – it landed in, but Alcaraz had the recovery skills to whip back a winner.

At 2-2, a double fault set the tone for a poor Djokovic service game, with Alcaraz winning four of five points for the crucial first break of the set.

Djokovic felt agonisingly close to breaking back on multiple occasions but instead had to fight hard on his own racquet, saving four set points at 3-5.

Yet when he appeared to have things in control, consecutive unforced errors gifted Alcaraz the third set 6-3.

Things quickly threatened to get away from Djokovic in the fourth set, needing to save a whopping six break points just to hold for 1-1, then giving a massive pump-up to the crowd.

Both men were steady through the middle games of the set, though Alcaraz really threatened at 0-30 while up 4-3, before Djokovic won five of the next six points.

He again called for the crowd to get behind him after a brilliant recovery on the first point at 4-4, then again when he made it 30-all, before Alcaraz found the net to hand Djokovic his first break point since the second set.

The Serb sent one just long and Alcaraz held to move a game away from the title, Djokovic repelling the pressure to leave it 5-5.

A whopping 24-shot rally to begin the game at 6-5 left Djokovic exhausted and “wounded”, per Jim Courier, as he tried to stay in the final with the clock ticking over three hours.

Two unforced errors then handed Alcaraz two championship points at 15-40. Another handed him the title.

MEN’S FINAL PREVIEW (via Fox Sports and AFP)

History will be made regardless of the result after a pair of epic semi-finals set up a mouth-watering Australian Open men’s final between world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz and the legendary Novak Djokovic.

One of the most dramatic days in tournament history saw Alcaraz survive a five-setter in which he looked on the brink of retirement, and in which opponent Alex Zverev served for a spot in the final, while Djokovic came back to beat two-time champion Jannik Sinner also in five sets.

Both men will still be exhausted from their respective heroics and know all-time greatness is on the line on Rod Laver Arena (from 7:30pm AEDT).

The 22-year-old Alcaraz, who has won the French Open, US Open and Wimbledon twice each, can become the youngest man to complete the career grand slam – surpassing fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

Meanwhile the 38-year-old Djokovic can officially set the record for the most slam titles, currently in a tie with Margaret Court on 24 – though many of her majors were won before the Open Era and are somewhat discounted.

He would also extend his own record with an 11th Australian Open title.

Alcaraz and Djokovic’s most memorable showdowns

– Madrid 2022 –

At just 19, Alcaraz crossed paths with Djokovic for the first time in the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters.

The Serbian was world No. 1, while the rising star from Murcia was ranked ninth. He had just beaten his illustrious compatriot Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals.

Fresh from his first Masters 1000 title in Miami, Alcaraz won 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) on the Madrid clay before crushing Alexander Zverev in the final.

“There are eight players ahead of me before I can become the best player in the world,” proclaimed the ambitious Spaniard after his victory over Djokovic.

Four months later, he won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open and became the youngest world No. 1 since the ATP rankings were created in 1973.

– Wimbledon 2023 –

Beaten by Djokovic in the semi-finals of Roland Garros in 2023, Alcaraz fought back in the Wimbledon final.

On the hallowed grass of the All England Club, Alcaraz beat the four-time defending champion 1-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 and claimed his second major trophy on the turf where the Serb was so at home.

“Beating Novak at his best, in this stage, making history, being the guy to beat him after 10 years unbeaten on that court, it’s something that I will never forget,” said the right-hander from Murcia, the only player to beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam in 2023.

“It’s great for the new generation, as well, I think to see me beating him and making them think that they are capable to do it, as well,” added Alcaraz, who would again beat Djokovic, who had just returned from injury, in the 2024 Wimbledon final.

– Paris 2024 –

A few weeks after being forced to withdraw from his quarter-final at Roland Garros with a knee injury, Djokovic returned to Paris, in search of the only piece missing from his already impressive list of achievements, which includes a Davis Cup victory and 24 Grand Slam titles: an Olympic gold.

In the final, the indomitable Serb beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2) to further cement his place in tennis history at the age of 37.

“This is probably the biggest sporting success I have ever had and the most special feeling,” aid the winner, after shedding a few tears.

“In a way losing heavily to Alcaraz at Wimbledon probably worked in my favour as I knew I couldn’t play any worse than that,” said Djokovic.

Alacraz also cried, convinced that he had “disappointed the Spanish, who were expecting gold”.

– Melbourne 2025 –

Although Djokovic and Alcaraz have not met in a final since the Olympic Games, they faced each other for the first time in Melbourne in the quarter-finals of the 2025 edition.

In a difficult position after losing the first set and suffering an injury that turned out to be a torn muscle in his left thigh, Djokovic pulled off a heroic victory (4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4) after more than three and a half hours of battle.

“Just one of the most epic matches I have played on this court, any court really,” said Djokovic, who was “concerned” about his injury and forced to retire after one set in the semi-finals against Zverev.

Alcaraz took his revenge in the US Open semi-finals, winning 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in a one-sided match on his way to his sixth major title.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY 15 ORDER OF PLAY

Rod Laver Arena

Day session from 12pm

Junior Girls’ Singles Final

Ekaterina Tupitsyna (RUS) vs [3] Ksenia Efremova (FRA)

Junior Boys’ Singles Final

[4] Keaton Hance (USA) vs [7] Ziga Sesko (SLO)

Night session from 7:30pm

Men’s Singles Final

[1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs [4] Novak Djokovic (SRB)