Carlos Alcaraz Garfia staged a sensational comeback to defeat Novak Djokovic and clinch his maiden Australian Open men’s singles title at Melbourne Park on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Spaniard rebounded from a slow start to overpower the 38-year-old Serbian great 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5, lifting the prestigious Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in a final that underscored a changing of the guard in men’s tennis.

The triumph marked Alcaraz’s seventh Grand Slam title, placing him alongside legends John McEnroe and Mats Wilander on the all-time winners’ list.

In the process, the world No. 1 etched his name deeper into tennis history by becoming the youngest male player in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam at 22 years and 272 days. He broke the 88-year-old record previously held by Don Budge, who achieved the feat in 1938 at 22 years and 363 days.

Alcaraz is now the ninth man to win all four major titles, joining an elite group comprising Fred Perry, Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic.

Fondly known as “Carlitos,” Alcaraz also became the first men’s player under 23 to win seven Grand Slam titles, a milestone Djokovic only reached at age 27. The victory levelled their head-to-head record at 5–5, further intensifying one of tennis’s most compelling rivalries.

Alcaraz earned $2.79 million in prize money for his Melbourne triumph, capping a historic night that confirmed his status as the dominant force of his generation and one of the sport’s fastest-rising greats.