Carlos Alcaraz achieved an improbable feat in Rod Laver Arena on Sunday by defeating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final. Many celebrities and sporting stars extended their congratulations to the Spaniard, including Maria Sharapova and Coco Gauff.
The 22-year-old claimed his first Major title in Melbourne and with that became the youngest player to enter the career Grand Slam honor. Alcaraz shared his title-winning image on social media and captioned his Instagram post as, “WE DID IT!!! ❤️”
Coco Gauff and Maria Sharapova left congratulatory comments under Alcaraz’s post that read,
“Congratulations, 🏆🏆🏆🏆” Gauff commented.
“Career SLAM, 👑” Sharapova commented.
Gauff played at the Australian Open, where she reached the quarterfinals, ultimately losing to Elina Svitolina in straight sets. The 21-year-old American’s shocking defeat drew widespread attention after a racket-smashing video went viral on social media.
In contrast, Sharapova, who retired from professional tennis in 2020 after winning five Grand Slam titles and completing a career Grand Slam, has been enjoying her life off the court alongside her fiancé, Alexander Gilkes, and their son, Theodore.
As for Alcaraz, the Spaniard had another Spanish legend in attendance in the form of Rafael Nadal to witness his final against Djokovic, and the 22-year-old didn’t disappoint. With this win, Alcaraz has further cemented his position as the World No. 1 and left others, including Jannik Sinner, in his wake for the rest of the season.
Carlos Alcaraz Termed Djokovic an Inspiration After Their Australian Open Final
After beating the Serb in a thrilling finale, Alcaraz began his title-winning speech by praising the 38-year-old’s resilience and calling him an inspiration.
“First, I just want to talk about Novak. I think he deserves some ovation for sure. You are talking about how I’m doing things, but what you’re doing, Novak, is really inspiring. For me, it has been an honour sharing the locker room and the court with you,” Alcaraz said.
Next, Alcaraz thanked his team for their constant support throughout the tournament, then turned his attention to Nadal, thanking him for being in attendance at Rod Laver Arena and watching him play against Djokovic.
Finally, Alcaraz voiced his gratitude towards all the fans in Australia. “I think it is an honour to play here in Melbourne. Thank you very much for pushing me in tough moments during the matches. I can’t wait to come back here next year,” Alcaraz said.
The Spaniard will cherish his career Grand Slam honor for some time before resuming play on the ATP circuit.
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