Alcaraz just rewrote the record books in Melbourne.
At 22, Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic to win his first Australian Open, claim his seventh major and become the youngest man ever to complete the career Grand Slam, a milestone he had long said would mean more than any single title.
How The Final Played Out
Alcaraz recovered after losing the opening set 2-6, then won the next three sets 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to claim his first Australian Open and seventh major, completing the career Grand Slam and becoming just the tenth man, and sixth in the Open Era, to win all four majors.
Djokovic, at 38, produced a vintage first set with pinpoint serving and only four unforced errors, and arrived in the final chasing what would have been his 25th major; despite a roaring Melbourne crowd he could not maintain that same level for the match’s duration.
I wasn’t able to maintain that kind of feeling that I had in the first set,
Novak Djokovic
The champion’s paycheck reflected the tournament’s growth: Alcaraz earned $2.8 million, a payout up 19% from last year, and the victory pushed his career prize money to $62.8 million, already the fifth-highest total in ATP history and on pace to move further up the list.
Djokovic will collect $1.4 million as the runner-up, which increases his on-court earnings to $192.7 million. That total underscores his enduring greatness and commercial appeal, keeping him among the sport’s wealthiest competitors even as his priorities shift in a long career.
Off-Court Rewards And A Tattoo Promise
After the trophy ceremony Alcaraz confirmed he’ll mark the moment with a permanent souvenir, telling reporters, “I say it’s going to be a kangaroo for sure. A little kangaroo,” and adding that the small tattoo will go on his leg though he had not yet chosen left or right.
Sportico placed Alcaraz 35th on its highest-paid athletes list with estimated total earnings of $57.8 million, about $36 million of that from off-court deals including Nike, Rolex, BMW and Babolat, with Nike alone reportedly worth more than $10 million of his endorsement package.
Women’s Final And Tour Context
On the women’s side Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to take her first Australian Open, a comeback that saw her lose five straight games before winning six of the last seven and collecting $2.8 million, which pushed her career prize money past $27 million.
Much of Rybakina’s recent haul traces to her record WTA Finals payout of $5.2 million in 2025, the largest single-tournament payout on either tour, which helped vault her into the upper echelon of women’s earners despite modest endorsement totals compared with some peers.
The men’s draw has tightened into a two-player story lately: Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have combined to win the last nine men’s Grand Slam titles between them, a run that invites comparisons to stretches of the Big Three era when Federer, Nadal and Djokovic alternated long runs of major dominance.
Historically Alcaraz sits in rare company; the previous youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam was Rafael Nadal at age 24 in 2010, and Nadal went on to collect 13 more majors, suggesting that this milestone could be the opening chapter of a prolonged era for Alcaraz rather than its peak.
For now the takeaway mixes trophies, cash and a touch of whimsy: seven majors, a career Grand Slam, substantial prize earnings and a kangaroo tattoo to mark the accomplishment. If the coming seasons echo the early story, tennis fans should expect both drama and more headline-making moments.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
