Alcaraz Celebrates a Historic Triumph at the 2026 Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia – Carlos Alcaraz described his victory at the 2026 Australian Open as “very, very special”, a triumph that allowed him to complete the Grand Slam and become the youngest player to achieve it, after defeating Novak Djokovic in the final.The Spanish tennis player, still emotional after lifting the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, acknowledged that both the opponent and the setting increased the difficulty of the decisive match. “Facing Novak in a final of this caliber, whether it’s a Grand Slam, an Olympic Games or a major final, always makes it more complicated. He has a special aura, he never seems nervous, and that can make you doubt,” he explained.Because of how I was training, how I was feeling, and everything surrounding the tournament, achieving it was something very beautiful.
Carlos Alcaraz
Overcoming this challenge had a special meaning for the current world number one. “When you achieve it, it feels incredible. It’s like breaking down a big barrier”, he stated.
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Nadal’s Excitement in the Stands
The presence of Rafael Nadal in the box added a unique emotional component to the day. “Rafa is my role model, my idol. Knowing that he was there watching the match meant a lot to me and made the day even more special,” confessed Alcaraz. The champion also recalled that the start of the tournament was marked by mixed feelings and personal doubts. “It wasn’t because of the people or external comments, which were even positive. It was an internal feeling, mine,” he clarified. Being his first tournament and his first match of the season, the level of self-demand was high. “I like to do things well from the start and when I didn’t see myself at the level I wanted, I was left with a bad taste,” he admitted. In this process, the support of his team and his coach Samu López, who conveyed calm to him, stood out. “They told me to be patient, that the level would come,” he recounted.Looking to the Future
After the success in Melbourne, Alcaraz avoids making long-term plans, although he is clear about his major goals. “The key tournaments for me are the Grand Slams, the Masters 1000, the Davis Cup and the ATP Finals. They are the ones that generate the most ambition in me and the ones I work for every day”, he pointed out.
The Spaniard also referred to the accumulated physical wear and tear, especially after the demanding semi-final against Alexander Zverev, in which he even suffered cramps. “It was not easy to recover, but we did everything possible to get to the final in the best possible way,” he explained. Even so, he made it clear that in a match of that magnitude, fatigue takes a back seat. “In a Grand Slam final, it doesn’t matter how you feel physically. The illusion and motivation to make history push you to keep going,” he assured.
