Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina Clinch ’26 Australian Title

By Alex Sharp

The Australian Open reminds us of home.

Maybe it’s the ocean blue courts of Melbourne Park, perhaps it’s the joy of the ‘Happy Slam’ which also emanates around the grounds in Ohio every August. Fans bask in the rays with sunnies and hats at the ready, listening to live music, and tucking into some top-notch food. Sound familiar? Of course it does.

Just like at The Cincinnati Open, the tennis is the very heart of the event and wow, the 2026 Australian Open treated us to some compelling storylines.

Stan Wawrinka gave us a rocket-fuel backhand last dance, whilst the greatest showman Gael Monfils waved goodbye to Melbourne. Stateside fans were thrilled by quarter-final quests by American duo Ben Shelton and Learner Tien. However, the men’s draw belonged to two gladiators.

Our 2025 champion Carlos Alcaraz had been in dazzling form until the semi-finals, when the world No.1 was “pushed to the limit” in a five hours, 27 minute 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 rumble with 2021 Cincinnati champ Alexander Zverev.

On the same firecracker Friday, three-time Cincinnati champion Novak Djokovic continued to defy his age and logic to out-battle the two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner 3-6, ​6-3, ​4-6, 6-4, 6-4,‍ finishing at 1:30 a.m. to a raucous applause. It was vintage Novak.

Into the final, could Alcaraz become the youngest man ever to complete the Career Grand Slam (winning all four majors)? Across the net, the Serbian was hunting down an unprecedented 25^th major.

History was well and truly on the line.

Rewind to Cincinnati 2023 and these Hall of Fame talents collided in an instant classic final, which ended with Djokovic tearing apart his shirt apart as the 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) victor at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

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On February 1 on Rod Laver Arena, those lucky enough to be at Melbourne Park witnessed another intergenerational epic. After one scintillating rally, Djokovic raised his racket to his former rival Rafael Nadal – who was watching on from the front row – to jokingly see if the Spaniard fancied a go at taking on Alcaraz.  It was an all-star cast.

In the heat of the battle Alcaraz was chuckling away after winning or losing their catalogue of mind-boggling points. Just like his Cincinnati 2025 title run, Alcaraz was in his element, competing in this major cauldron with unlimited joy, capping a fortnight of fearless creativity and off-the-charts athleticism in style. The highlights were extensive, Djokovic could match the tennis IQ, but eventually, ever so slightly, dipped physically. Remember, the 24-time major winner is approaching his 39^th birthday.

This time it was the smiling assassin Alcaraz who raced clear 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, to fall on his back as the ninth man to achieve the Career Grand Slam. Amongst all the accolades, the 22-year-old joins Serena Williams as the only two in the Open Era to lift each Grand Slam in their first final appearance. An all-time great already, Alcaraz was keen to pay tribute to his iconic opponent.

“I want to talk about Novak – he deserves an ovation for sure… what you’re doing is inspiring – not just for tennis players, but for athletes around the world and for me as well,” said seven-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz during the trophy presentation. “It’s been an honour sharing the locker room and the court with you.”

Alcaraz admitted the missing Melbourne silverware had been looming large. “It’s a great feeling. Completing a Career Grand Slam was something that was on my mind. Every time that I come here to Australia, I just made the pre-season just with my mind into this tournament to try to work as hard as I can, trying to get the trophy.”

“What I’ve learned this year is to appreciate and enjoy every single second of the moment you’re living… So right now, I’m just trying to have a time to realise what I’ve been doing. I know I’m doing history with some trophies, some tournaments, some achievements. For me it’s an honour to put my name on the history books.”

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There was real injection of youth in the AO 2026 women’s draw as teenagers Iva Jovic (quarter-finals) and Victoria Mboko (Last 16) made their mark. American fans were buoyed for four women compiling the Elite 8. Jessica Pegula was the only one to advance with an inspired showing to down compatriot Amanda Anisimova. 2023 Cincinnati titlist Coco Gauff fell to the inspirational Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian’s superb run ended at the semi-finals by the relentless world No. 1 and 2024 Cincinnati champion Aryna Sabalenka.

In a Cincinnati 2025 rematch, Elena Rybakina gained revenge for a semi-final defeat by eventual champion Iga Swiatek in Mason, Ohio, with a clinical 7-5, 6-1 passage past the Pole. Rybakina was on a devastating roll, which then halted Pegula 6-3, 7-6(7) in the Final Four.

With Sabalenka versus Rybakina, there was a chance to reminisce on the AO 2023 final (Sabalenka won) and the Cincinnati 2025 quarter-final (Rybakina won 6-1, 6-4).

Just last November, the Kazakh also edged the world No.1 6-3, 7-6(0) in the season-ending WTA Finals trophy showdown. That was a telling sign for Saturday’s clash Down Under.

Even facing defeat at 0-3 in the decider, the ice cool Rybakina stuck to the task with supreme conviction for a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory to collect a second major.

“I always believed that I can come back to the level I was. Of course, we all have ups and downs,” said Rybakina, having also ruled Wimbledon 2022. “Like I think everyone thought I will never be in the final again or even get a trophy, but it’s all about the work.

“Of course, when you are getting some wins, big wins against top players, then you start to believe more, you get more confident. That was the kind of way.”

The 26-year-old, having shrugged off plenty of injury and illness issues in recent times, now has 10 successive wins against Top 10 opponents. Talk about Grand Slam pedigree.

“It’s an incredible achievement. Super happy and proud. It was really tough battle. I didn’t expect to turn it around,” stated the AO26 winner. “I’m just very proud of the work we did with the team, and actually that I found my kind of best form here at the Grand Slam.”