Novak Djokovic wins first set against Alcaraz in Australian Open final ATP Tour
ATP Tour
Djokovic beats Alcaraz to win first set in Australian Open final
The Serbian is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title
February 1, 2026
David Gray/AFP via Getty Images
Novak Djokovic plays Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final on Sunday.
Andy West
Novak Djokovic got off to a stunning start in Sunday’s Australian Open championship match, with the record-breaking 10-time champion winning the first set 6-2 over Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic was positive in his first match on Rod Laver Arena despite a marathon five-set victory over 2024 and 2025 champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals on Friday night. The 38-year-old, who is trying to lift a record 25th Grand Slam trophy and become the oldest men’s singles winner of a major in the Open era, made little mistake in his opening statement.
Dekovic’s determination👊
He won his first match against Alcaraz 6-2…#AustraliaOpen pic.twitter.com/HP4oa1rKGM
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 1, 2026
Djokovic, who has never lost an Australian Open title match, is seeking to break Alcaraz and Sinner’s monopoly on the Grand Slams in recent years: the pair have won the last eight. If he can beat Alcaraz after defeating PIF ATP No. 2 Sinner, the Serbian will become the ninth player to defeat the top two seeds on the road to a Grand Slam.
If the 22-year-old Alcaraz can find a way to defeat Djokovic and go on to lift the trophy in Melbourne, he will become the youngest player in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam (win all four Grand Slam singles titles). The record is currently held by Alcaraz’s fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who was watching his two former ATP Tour rivals from the stands at Rod Laver Arena.
As he did against Sinner, Djokovic was determined to dominate the match with his forehand in his 11th Australian Open final, and the Serb won the match’s first three break points in the fourth game. While Alcaraz bravely fended off the first two games, Djokovic took an early advantage in the third game by winning a baseline-extending rally.
Alcaraz himself faced Alexander Zverev in the longest semifinal in tournament history on Friday, but his performance in the early stages was unusually lackluster. Djokovic expertly used his momentum to break his opponent’s serve again in the eighth game to seal the victory with just two points behind on serve, according to Infosys Stats.
