Carlos Alcaraz created history in Melbourne.
Credit: Reuters Photo
With Rafael Nadal watching from the stands, Carlos Alcaraz created history by becoming the youngest ATP player to complete the Career Grand Slam in the Open Era on Sunday (February 1).
Incidentally, the 22-year-old beat Nadal's own record and it was quite befitting that the Spaniard was inside Rod Laver Arena to watch two of his former ATP Tour rivals do battle.
The Spaniard is now a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, moving him level with level with John McEnroe and Mats Wilander on the all-time list.
The Spaniard's 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 Melbourne victory continued the stranglehold that he and his great rival Jannik Sinner have had on the majors in recent years: the pair has won the past nine Grand Slam titles between them, dating back to Djokovic’s triumph at the 2023 US Open.
The modest, muscular star from the small town of El Palmar in Spain's south-east hit the giant-killing jackpot at Madrid in 2022 when he became the only man to defeat both Nadal and Djokovic at the same clay-court event.
For good measure, he achieved it on back-to-back days on his way to the title.
When he won his maiden Slam, at the US Open the same year, he became the youngest champion of a men's major since Nadal at the 2005 French Open.
He was also the youngest man to ascend to the world number one ranking.
His Roland Garros coronation in 2024 ensured he was the youngest to win Grand Slam titles on clay, grass and hard courts.