Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will meet in the Australian Open final tonight with history in the balance, as the Serbian great chases a record 25th Grand Slam title and the Spanish dynamo bids to become the youngest man to win all four majors.
Modern men’s tennis has not lacked champions pushing the next frontier of greatness, but the stakes have rarely been higher in a single match.
With 24 major trophies, including a record 10 at Melbourne Park, Djokovic’s legacy is already secure.
Few can argue there have been better players to grace the men’s game.
Yet Djokovic’s record remains level with Australian icon Margaret Court, who also won 24 Grand Slam titles in the women’s game, including 13 in the amateur era.
After taking Ken Rosewall’s record as the oldest man to reach the final by beating defending champion Jannik Sinner, Djokovic can surpass the Australian again as the oldest to win any Grand Slam title.
No other man has dominated Melbourne like Djokovic, who has lifted the trophy four times more than the next-best duo of Roy Emerson and Roger Federer.
Judging by the deafening cheers at Rod Laver Arena early on Saturday morning, when he knocked out Italian Jannik Sinner in a five-set classic, plenty of fans will be in the Serb’s corner.
He may need all their support as he looks to scale another Everest against world number one Alcaraz.
The 22-year-old Spaniard has had Melbourne firmly in his sights since winning his second US Open title last year.
He said he would gladly trade winning the three other majors this year if it meant hoisting the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup at the end of Sunday’s final.
With two trophies each at the French Open, Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows, Djokovic would make Alcaraz the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam, eclipsing Don Budge, who achieved the feat at the 1938 French Open two days before his 23rd birthday.
He would also become the first men’s player under 23 to win seven Grand Slam titles, a mark that eluded Djokovic until he was 27.
Djokovic will face Alcarez at 8 tonight.
Source: Reuters
