Carlos Alcaraz breaks 88-year-old record with maiden Australian Open triumph, defeats Djokovic in final

Melbourne:

Carlos Alcaraz created history today, winning the Australian Open for the first time in his career, beating the veteran Novak Djokovic, who was chasing his 25th Grand Slam title. However, it was the 22-year-old who held his nerve to become the youngest player to achieve career grand slam at the age of 22 years and 272 days, breaking Don Budge's record after 88 years. Even though this is Alcaraz's maiden AO triumph, the Spaniard had won six Grand Slam titles before today.

Coming back to the match, Alcaraz began the match under extreme pressure as Djokovic looked in the best of touch, winning the opening set by 6-2 margin. However, it didn't take much time for the Spaniard to return to his best as he drew level in the second set with a stunning 6-2 win.

Battle between youngest and oldest in AO Final

By the time the third set began, it became a battle between the youngest and the oldest in the Australian Open final. Carlos Alcaraz was exhibiting his supreme fitness, while Djokovic was getting tired with every passing game but wasn't ready to give up. He made the 22-year-old work hard for almost every point and stayed afloat in the game, saving several break points.

But eventually, Alcaraz pocketed the third set too. When it came to the fourth set, both players were neck and neck in terms of holding their respective serves and at 5-5, one felt that the set was going into the tie- breaker. Djokovic was putting up a fight to admire while Alcaraz was not letting his intensity go anywhere.

But when it came to holding his serve for one final time in the fourth set, Djokovic failed, or perhaps came second to Alcaraz's superiority on the evening. The Serbian went down fighting as the champion player from Spain won the Australian Open for the very first time in his career. Overall, this is the seventh time Alcaraz won a Grand Slam event and also the youngest to win the Australian Open.