Alcaraz beats Djokovic to win historic Australian Open, pockets $2.79m prize money

Alcaraz beats Djokovic to win historic Australian Open, pockets $2.79m prize money

Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic on Sunday to claim his maiden Australian Open title and become the youngest man in history to complete a career Grand Slam, denying the Serbian great an unprecedented 25th major crown.

The 22-year-old Spaniard recovered from a slow start to defeat Djokovic 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5 in a gripping final at Melbourne Park, becoming the youngest man in the Open Era to win all four Grand Slam titles.

Read Also: Australian Open Final: History beckons as Alcaraz battles Djokovic at Melbourne Park

Alcaraz will take home $2.79 million in prize money for the victory, adding it to the major titles he has already won at the US Open and French Open. Djokovic, meanwhile, earned $1.45 million as runner-up.

In completing the career Grand Slam, Alcaraz surpassed legendary compatriot Rafael Nadal, who was two years older when he achieved the same feat.

“This moment is really special, but having Rafa in the stands made it even more special,” Alcaraz said. “Lifting the trophy for the first time in Australia is a dream come true. I dreamed about winning the Australian Open and completing the career Grand Slam.”

Alcaraz’s triumph came after a physically draining semi-final in which he battled past Alexander Zverev in a five-set match lasting more than five hours, overcoming cramps and a 3–5 deficit in the deciding set. He revealed that Nadal’s famous run at the 2009 Australian Open inspired his recovery.

“After the semi-final, I thought about the match Rafa played against Verdasco in 2009 and then how he came back physically and played such a great final against Federer and won,” Alcaraz explained.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

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