Carlos Alcaraz carved his name into the history books by capturing his first Australian Open title on Sunday.
The Spaniard defeated Novak Djokovic in the final at Melbourne Park to become the youngest player ever to complete a career Grand Slam.
At just 22, Alcaraz now has seven major titles to his name, matching the career totals of John McEnroe and Mats Wilander.
In doing so, he also prevented Djokovic from winning a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, handing the Serb his first-ever defeat in an Australian Open final.
After the match, the Spaniard spoke about what the 38-year-old said to him during their conversation at net.
Carlos Alcaraz explains what Novak Djokovic told him after Australian Open final
“I mean, he just told me, Congratulations, you deserve it,” Alcaraz revealed.
“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 [a] Grand Slam.
“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.”
Carlos Alcaraz reveals tattoo plans after Australian Open title
Asked about what tattoo he might get to mark his Australian Open win, Alcaraz said: “I’ve said it’s going to be a kangaroo, for sure, a little kangaroo.”
“I don’t know where it’s going to be. It’s going to be in the leg, for sure. I don’t know the right, the left one.
“So I got to choose a good spot, but it’s going to be for sure close to the French Open or Wimbledon. I just have to choose (smiling).”
Despite an already impressive record of seven major titles at just 22 years old, Alcaraz admits he has not had much time yet to take stock of what he has accomplished.
He explained: “I’m going to say tennis really beautiful, but what the bad part of tennis, it is we have tournaments week after week after week, and sometimes you don’t realize what you’ve been doing lately.
“Because you know, once you finish tournament, you got to be prepared or your mind is about, you know, going to the next tournament.
“So sometimes you don’t stop yourself and think about what you’re doing. What I’ve learned, you know, this year is about appreciate and enjoy every single second of the moment you’re living.
“Not only lifting the trophies, but playing tournaments, playing tennis, getting victories, getting losses. Whatever it is, just enjoy and appreciate the life you’re living.
“So right now I’m just trying to have a time to realize what I’ve been doing. Yeah, I know I’m doing history with some trophies, some tournaments, some achievement that I’ve been getting. For me it’s an honour to put my name on the history books.”
Having won the US Open and Roland Garros last season, Alcaraz has now secured three of the last four Grand Slam tournaments he has participated in.
- READ MORE: Novak Djokovic sends message to Rafael Nadal during speech following Australian Open loss
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