Carlos Alcaraz has revealed exactly what Novak Djokovic said to him immediately after his win in the Australian Open final.
On Sunday morning, history was made at Melbourne Park as Alcaraz and Djokovic met in the final of the 2026 Australian Open.
Heading into the match, Djokovic hoped to win his first major since the 2023 US Open, taking his tally to a record-breaking 25 in the process.
However, instead it was Alcaraz who made history, as he became the youngest player in the history of men's tennis to win all four Grand Slams, following his dominant display against Djokovic.
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Immediately after the match, Djokovic was spotted approaching his opponent to share a private chat, and Alcaraz has spoken out to reveal exactly what was said.
Throughout what is likely the final years of his career, Djokovic has consistently shown respect to the new generation of talent in tennis.
And Alcaraz his revealed that this is exactly what the 24-time Major winner was doing when they spoke post-match.
“I mean, he just told me, ‘Congratulations, you deserve it’. I just told him, like, ‘It is always a pleasure’. It is always a pleasure to share the court with him, even more especially if it is in a final for Grand Slam,” the world No. 1 revealed.
“Doesn't matter if this time I won. You know, every time that I'm able to feel that aura from him on the other side of the net, for me it's a privilege.
"It's an honour, and it is like a master class for me to try to learn as much as I can. I have huge respect to him as an athlete, as a person, and I'm just really grateful to be able to live experiences on and off the court. That embrace was about respect, I guess.”
Djokovic's comments to Alcaraz in private echo what he said about the Spaniard during his post-match interview, as he took the time to heap praise on the youngster, while admitting that his career was coming to an end.
“What you’ve been doing, the best words to describe it is historic, legendary,” the 10-time Australian Open told Alcaraz.
“You’re so young, you have a lot of time, like myself,” he joked.
“I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other many more times in the next 10 years … not!”
Alcaraz is now the ninth man in the history of tennis to win all four Grand Slams, following players like the iconic trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic.
In doing so, the 22-year-old, broke a record held by Nadal and became is the youngest player to achieve that feat.
Topics: Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Australian Open, Tennis
Ben McCrum