History Rewritten: Alcaraz Creates a Melbourne Miracle at 22
1 February 2026
Alcaraz makes history at Melbourne Park
In a night that will be etched in tennis history, Carlos Alcaraz captured the Australian Open title with a remarkable comeback against Novak Djokovic, defeating the Serb 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 after three hours and two minutes. The win makes Alcaraz the youngest player to complete all four Grand Slam titles, achieving the feat at 22, in his fifth appearance and his first final in Melbourne. The Spaniard’s triumph capped a week of dramatic matches and signaled the rise of a new generation at the world’s oldest major.
According to Mundo Deportivo, this victory fulfilled a prophecy echoing the early careers of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Jannik Sinner, where history seems to rhyme at the Australian Open.
2004: Federer claimed the title at 22, in his fifth event and first final, defeating Marat Safin 7-6, 6-4, 6-2.
2009: Nadal earned his first Australian crown under similar circumstances—age 22, fifth participation, first final—defeating Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2.
2024: Sinner repeated the scene, grabbing his first Australian title at 22, in his fifth attempt and first final, beating Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
Thus, Alcaraz joins this rare club of players who combined youth and success at the Australian Open, overcoming obstacles, including cramps that nearly jeopardized his path in the semifinal against Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz dominates the top
With the win, Alcaraz strengthens his lead in the ATP rankings, surpassing Italian Daniil Sinner by about 2,800 points to a total gap of 3,350 points, up from 550 points before the tournament.
His tally rose from 12,050 to 13,650 points, a gain of 1,600, while Sinner’s total slid from 11,500 to 10,300, a loss of 1,200 points from the 2,000 he was defending as champion.
Observers expect Alcaraz to hold the No.1 spot through the clay-court season unless surprises arise. He will begin the upcoming week with his 56th week atop the rankings, a milestone that could push him past Jim Courier’s 58 weeks at No. 1 historically and bring him closer to Jannik Sinner’s 60 weeks.
