'Happy to prove all the people wrong': Carlos makes history to complete career Slam

(Getty/David Gray)

Just when you thought Carlos Alcaraz's young career couldn't get any more remarkable, the 22-year-old completed the Career Slam by winning his maiden Australian Open crown.

Coming in, history was on the line, with Alcaraz bidding to surpass Rafael Nadal as the youngest ever player to win all four majors, while that elusive 25th Slam title was in sight for Novak Djokovic to steer clear of Margaret Court's 24.

Confidence was sky-high for the 10-time Australian Open winner, who had just come off an epic five-set victory over Jannik Sinner. Yet the same could be said for Alcaraz after managing to survive cramps to defeat Alexander Zverev in five hours and 27 minutes.

It wasn't the best of starts for Alcaraz, who dropped serve twice in the opening set to give Djokovic a healthy one-set advantage — much to the delight of a packed Serbian fanbase at Melbourne Park.

But with his compatriot Rafael Nadal watching on from the stands, the Spanish top-seed discovered that bit of Rafa grit and fighting spirit to turn the match on his terms, as he eventually closed it out 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.

"It's a great feeling. Completing a career Grand Slam was something that was on my mind," Alcaraz confessed to the media with a glass of champagne by his side.

"Every time that I come here to Australia, I just made the preseason just with my mind into this tournament to try to work as hard as I can and to be as well-prepared as I can, you know, to play this tournament and trying to get the trophy."

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It was a strange off-season for the now seven-time major winner, who sensationally parted ways with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Nonetheless, doubts and speculation about a potential drop off didn't faze Alcaraz one bit.

"We all know how hard I worked in the preseason to be ready for this tournament, and I had too many things to think about during this tournament," he said.

"Just focus on my game style, focus on myself, being passion, and that's all I thought about during this tournament. But, you know, once I get it, I just happy to prove all the people were wrong."

So close yet so far, Djokovic was nothing but appreciative of his opponent's incredible early success in the sport.

"The results are a testament to his already stellar career," the 38-year-old said. "I can't think of any other superlatives about him. I think everything he said, and he deserves every bit of the praise that he gets from his peers, but also the whole tennis community.

"I mean, he's very nice, young man. Good values, nice family. Of course, already a legendary tennis player that made already a huge mark in the history books of tennis, I mean, with only 22 years of age.

"It's super impressive, no doubt about it. Well, first time I played him, he was, what, 11 or 12 years old (smiling). No, he was, I think, 18 or 19. You could already see that he's destined for great things."

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