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Carlos Alcaraz has an easy charm and broad Tom Cruise-like smile, but underneath the cool exterior is a highly driven individual laser-focused on setting records. The 22-year-old did just that on Sunday, beating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final to become the youngest man to win all four majors, surpassing the legendary Rafael Nadal. Fellow Spaniard Nadal, who was at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne to witness it, was 24 when he completed the career Grand Slam. Alcaraz has immense respect for Nadal and Djokovic, but the world number one’s hero growing up was Roger Federer. “Federer, the class he had, the way he got people to see tennis, that was beautiful,” Alcaraz, who has now won seven majors, said in 2023. “Watching Federer is like looking at a work of art. It’s elegance, he did everything magnificently. I became enchanted by him.” Alcaraz shares plenty of the same attributes - daring, range, tactical flexibility, and style. The modest, muscular star from the small town of El Palmar in Spain’s southeast hit the giant-killing jackpot at Madrid in 2022 when he became the only man to defeat both Nadal and Djokovic at the same clay-court event. For good measure, he achieved it on back-to-back days on his way to the title. When he won his maiden Slam, at the US Open the same year, he became the youngest champion of a men’s major since Nadal at the 2005 French Open. He was also the youngest man to ascend to the world number one ranking. His Roland Garros coronation in 2024 ensured he was the youngest to win Grand Slam titles on clay, grass and hard courts. Ominously, Alcaraz is still getting better and he has developed nerves of steel, refusing to give up when the odds are stacked against him. He demonstrated that never-say-die attitude in his semi-final in Melbourne against Alexander Zverev, battling through cramp and a 3-5 deficit in the fifth set to pull off a huge win. “I just hate giving up. I just don’t want to feel that way,” he said. “When I was younger there were a lot of matches that I just didn’t want to fight anymore or I just gave up. “Then I just got mature, and I just hate that feeling (losing). “Every step more, every one second more of suffering, one second more of fighting is always worth it,” he added. Nadal heir apparentAt his side for most of his career was coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 2003 French Open winner, before they split late last year. Ferrero brought Alcaraz into his academy in Valencia, 120km from El Palmar. His raw potential soon attracted sponsors, with marquee brands such as Nike and Rolex rushing to sign up Nadal’s heir apparent. The tennis team around the prodigy was expanded and soon included a physical trainer, a physiotherapist and the support of psychologists and doctors. An indication of his potential was obvious at the Rio clay-court event in 2020 when he was just 16, and ranked 406 in the world. He shocked Albert Ramos-Vinolas to register his first ATP win, and it set him on the path to superstardom. Alcaraz, who learned the game at a tennis school run by his father, captured his maiden ATP trophy in 2021. Fiercely protective of his private life, he has many of the same friends he hung out with as a child. He played doubles with Emma Raducanu at last year’s US Open, setting tongues wagging, but the British player has insisted they are “just good friends”. Alcaraz’s off-court interests include golf and football, and he is a big Real Madrid fan. Another hobby is chess, which he has said helps him in his day job. “I love chess. Having to concentrate, to play against someone else, strategy, having to think ahead. “I think all of that is very similar to the tennis court,” he said in a 2023 Vogue interview. “You have to intuit where the other player is going to send the ball, you have to move ahead of time, and try to do something that will make him uncomfortable.“So I play it a lot.” 

Novak Djokovic rolled back the years to reach the Australian Open third round Thursday but Jannik Sinner, the man who has usurped him as king of Melbourne Park, showed why he is favourite to claim a hat-trick of titles.Women's defending ‌champion Madison Keys overcame a second-set wobble against Ashlyn Krueger to also advance while former champion Naomi Osaka toned ‌down her outfit but not her power ‍game as she also reached round three.Iga Swiatek continued her quest to complete her career Grand Slam with a 6-2 6-3 victory over unseeded Marie Bouzkova.Fourth seed Djokovic, ⁠seeking a record-extending 11th Melbourne Park title and 25th Grand ⁠Slam trophy overall to break the deadlock with Margaret Court, eased past Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli 6-3 6-2 6-2.The 38-year-old Serb maintained ‍his steady grip on the second-round clash without needing to shift into top gear."I didn't know much about him (Maestrelli) until a few days ago, it happens more often than not these days," Djokovic said of his 23-year-old opponent.He raced through the opening set and pounced again in the opening game of the second set to heap pressure on world number 141 Maestrelli. The win was Djokovic's 399th in Grand Slams and his 101st in Melbourne, leaving him one shy of record-holder Roger Federer. Djokovic will next meet Botic van de Zandschulp.There was something of a retro feel about day five in the men's singles with Swiss former champion ‌Stan Wawrinka, 40, outlasting Arthur Gea 4-6 6-3 3-6 7-5 7-6 (10-3) while Marin Cilic, 37, dispatched 21st seed Denis Shapovalov 6-4 6-3 6-2.In 2009, Djokovic, Cilic and Wawrinka all reached round three and 17 years later they are still going strong.The man to beat on blue Melbourne hard courts these ‍days, however, is Sinner. He was supreme as ⁠he thumped home wild card ‌James Duckworth 6-1 6-4 6-2 in the Rod Laver Arena evening session, banging down 18 aces in a dominant display.Sinner, bidding to join Djokovic by becoming only the second man in the professional era to win three successive Australian Open titles, has now won 12 successive Tour-level matches without dropping a set and looks razor sharp."I know how much work I've put in so the body feels good and the mind is in a good moment," he said. The world number two will face American Eliot Spizzirri next. KEYS STUMBLES ON WAY TO WIN OVER KRUEGERKeys, the ninth seed in the draw, notched up a 6-1 7-5 win over fellow American Krueger but was less than convincing after powering her way through the opening set.The defending champion allowed doubts to creep into her game in the second set, handing Krueger two breaks on serve with a succession of double faults before battling back to progress to the next round to face Karolina Pliskova.Swiatek shrugged off the sluggishness of ​her first-round match with a much more lively ‌display against Bouzkova."It felt great playing today, I felt more free than in the first round so I wanted to go for it," Swiatek said.Osaka, champion in 2019 and 2021, ditched the ⁠parasol, veil and broad-brimmed hat for her walk-on against Romania's ‍Sorana Cirstea but continued making waves in her jellyfish-inspired outfit, battling to a 6-3 4-6 6-2 win.There was no love lost between the two players though with a frosty exchange at the net after match point with Cirstea upset by Osaka's antics. "(There were) apparently a lot of 'come ons' that she was angry about," Osaka said.Sixth seed Jessica Pegula had few issues against doubles partner McCartney Kessler, handing out a comprehensive 6-0 6-2 defeat to her fellow American in 58 minutes to set up a meeting with Russia's Oksana Selekhmeteva in the third round.Wimbledon ​runner-up Amanda Anisimova, also from the U.S., eased to a 6-1 6-4 win over Katerina Siniakova and the fourth seed will next face compatriot Peyton Stearns while fifth seed Elena Rybakina beat Varvara Gracheva, also in straight sets. MUSETTI DOWNS PAL SONEGOMen's fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti won the battle of the Italians on Margaret Court Arena as he beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-3 6-3 6-4 and will face Czech Tomas Machac next after he overpowered Greek 31st seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 3-6 7-6(5) 7-6(5)."It was not an easy match to prepare, to play, and to deal with because Lorenzo is one of my best friends on tour," said Musetti. "We shared a lot of nice memories, so it's not easy to separate those things in the court."Eighth-seeded Ben Shelton had few issues against Australia's Dane Sweeny, the American ⁠claiming a 6-3 6-2 6-2 win to set up a third-round meeting with Valentin Vacherot, who defeated Australia's Rinky Hijikata in four sets. 

Novak Djokovic returns to Melbourne Park looking to roll back the apparently inexorable tide of the "Sincaraz" era and produce ‌an Australian Open triumph that would establish him as the most successful Grand ‌Slam champion of all time.The ‍Serbian clinched his 24th major title at the U.S. Open in late 2023, but Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have ⁠since dominated the Grand Slams with ⁠a brand of fast-paced tennis that has blown their rivals off the court.Djokovic, who will be ‍39 in May, is not impervious to the physical toll two decades on the tour has taken on his body, but only the most foolhardy observer has ever written off one of the mentally toughest players to play the game.To move out of a tie with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam singles titles in the Australian's own back yard, though, he looks likely to need to beat one or both of the "New Two" ‌at the business end of the tournament.Last year, the last survivor of the "Big Three" beat Alcaraz in the quarter-finals only to retire from his semi-final against Alex Zverev with a hamstring tear.He reached the ‍semi-finals of all four majors in ⁠2025, losing to Sinner ‌in Paris and at Wimbledon, as well as Alcaraz in New York."I lost three out of four slams in semis against these guys, so they're just too good, playing on a really high level," he said after his loss at Flushing Meadows. "Best-of-five makes it very, very difficult for me to play them. Particularly if it's like the end stages of a Grand Slam." 'ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION'Djokovic pulled out of the warm-up tournament in Adelaide in January but Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley moved quickly to douse any question over the 38-year-old turning up in Melbourne."He'll be here to play 100%," Tiley said at the weekend."Just out of the abundance of caution, he just wanted ​to make sure he's 100% ready. ‌He's won this event 10 times. He wants to go for that record, and this is the place that he has the ⁠best chance of doing it."Indeed, Tiley ‍said, it was highly unlikely to be Djokovic's last Australian Open either, tallying with the player's own ambition to defend his Olympic title in Los Angeles in 2028.Djokovic's battered body might have other plans, though, and his chances of going deep will probably rely on him staying healthy into the second week at Melbourne Park.He managed ATP titles in Geneva and Athens last year ​to take his tally to 101 but his best efforts at the longer Masters events were a Miami final and a semi in Shanghai.It will be his 21st appearance in the main draw at the Australian Open, a run that started as a qualifier in 2005 when he was thumped by eventual champion Marat Safin.Melbourne's large community of fans with Serbian heritage will ensure he has plenty of support at a tournament where he has otherwise been more admired than loved.There is no doubting he will go down as one of the tournament's ⁠great champions, however, especially as his 10 triumphs came in the "Big Three" era when Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer were also at their peak. 

Novak Djokovic said Monday he would step away completely from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), the advocacy group ‌he co-founded, citing concerns over transparency and governance ‌within the organisation. Djokovic, who ‍launched the PTPA alongside Vasek Pospisil in 2020 with the aim of strengthening player representation within the sport, said in a post on X that his latest move ‍was also driven by how his voice and image had been represented. “I am proud of the vision that Vasek and I shared when founding the PTPA, giving players a stronger, independent voice,” Djokovic said. “But it has become clear that my values and approach are no longer aligned with the ‌current direction of the organisation.” The Serbian said he would focus on tennis, his family and contributing to the sport in ways that reflect ‍his principles and integrity. “I wish the players ‌and those involved the best as they move forward, but for me, this chapter is now closed,” he added. The PTPA said in a statement late on Sunday that players had created the body to secure a stronger and more transparent voice in professional tennis and it was open to addressing any issues. “Players created the PTPA to secure a stronger, more transparent voice in professional tennis. The PTPA is governed by players and operates with open communication, collaborative decisions, and regular engagement. We always welcome the opportunity to address issues with any player, and remain available to do so. “As part of its mission, the PTPA initiated litigation against the tours and Grand Slams to advance reforms related to governance, transparency, and player rights. As a result, we have been targets of a coordinated defamation and witness intimidation campaign through the spreading of inaccurate and misleading narratives intended to discredit the PTPA, its staff, and its work. A federal court has already ruled this type of harassment improper and ordered it to cease. “We are working closely with legal counsel, law enforcement and players to evaluate all available options to address the spread of misinformation. These attacks from non-player third parties will not distract us from our mission: pursuing meaningful reforms for all players.” The PTPA in March launched legal action against tennis’s governing bodies, including ‍the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation and International Tennis Integrity Agency, accusing them of anti-competitive practices. Organisers of the four Grand Slam events were added to the case in September in the lawsuit, which also accused the various governing bodies of failing to safeguard ​player welfare.Djokovic, a 24-times Grand Slam champion, said at the time that he did not agree with all elements of the lawsuit, while both the ATP and WTA strongly rejected the allegations. The PTPA said in November that it was close to a deal with Tennis Australia, which is gearing up for the Australian Open that begins in Melbourne on January 18 and kicks off the new Grand Slam season. 

Serbian tennis great Novak Djokovic leads a movement session on the track at Lusail International Circuit ahead of the Formula One Qatar Grand Prix.**media[387156]**

Novak Djokovic banished exhaustion and played through an ankle injury scare to make it to the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters Tuesday, beating Spain's Jaume Munar 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.The victory keeps Djokovic on track as the favourite to take a record-extending fifth title in the Chinese financial hub, with other top seeds already withdrawn or knocked out.The 38-year-old almost looked like he might not be able to continue when the match went to a decider, but conjured up the energy to break his decade-younger opponent twice in the third set."Thank you, thank you everyone, I love you!" he shouted in Chinese to the adoring crowd before leaving court almost immediately after play finished.The 24-time Grand Slam champion had a good start, breaking in the fourth game, but shortly afterwards had to take a medical break when his left ankle slid out behind him as he rushed towards the net.He grimaced in pain as he was attended to by an on-court physio, but managed to resume to hold the fifth game.Djokovic received treatment briefly again during a break in play in the second set, and looked increasingly fatigued, crouching over frequently in between rallies.Serbian-flag-waving Chinese fans roared in support, but 41st-ranked Munar ultimately broke in the 12th game after an unforced error from his opponent.An agonised Djokovic dropped to the floor and remained splayed out on court with his chest heaving, as his team rushed over.But he picked himself up and in the third set had an incredible revival, breaking in the first and seventh games and sending the stadium into a frenzy.Djokovic is the highest-ranking player left in the competition.World number one Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament to rest, and second, third and fourth-ranked Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz have all been eliminated.The event in Shanghai has been beset by injuries, as players have battled temperatures of over 30 Celsius and humidity levels peaking at over 80 percent.Sinner was forced to retire on Sunday after being seized with extreme cramps.World number 11 Holger Rune, who has also struggled with the conditions, called on Tuesday for tennis authorities to bring in a heat policy for events like Shanghai.The Dane is through to the last eight after he took out France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3.Zizou Bergs and Gabriel Diallo took it down to the wire in their match, with the Belgian eventually prevailing in a prolonged third set tiebreak 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10/8).

Novak Djokovic said he had been "hanging by a rope" before battling through to the Shanghai Masters last 16 with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over qualifier Yannick Hanfmann Sunday.The 38-year-old Serb is looking to win a record-extending fifth title in Shanghai but was given a mighty scare by the 150th-ranked German.Djokovic fired two aces to start, delighting the crowd, but soon ran into trouble as Hanfmann found his range.The German broke in the third game and held serve after that to clinch the first set."I was just outplayed by a better player for a set and a half -- I was hanging by a rope to stay in the match," Djokovic said.Neither player was able to take control of a gruelling second set, until a series of unforced errors from Hanfmann in the 12th game gave Djokovic the opening he needed.Sweating in 28 C humidity at 9:00 pm, the 24-time Grand Slam champion then broke in the fourth game of the third set as his 33-year-old opponent's precision dropped.Cheered on by a stadium full of adoring fans, Djokovic held his resolve to take the third set after Hanfmann hit the ball out."I had to dig in really, really deep to come out from this match as a winner, and I think the energy and support of the crowd really got me out," Djokovic said.The United States' Taylor Fritz was not so lucky, becoming the highest-ranked player to be dumped out so far after he fell to 37th-ranked Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 7-5.On a hot afternoon, the world number four seemed lethargic and struggled to get into his stride, unnerved after Mpetshi Perricard nearly broke twice in the fifth game.That preempted a streak of brilliance that saw the neon orange-clad Frenchman fire three aces to hold the sixth, then break in the seventh.A closely fought second set came to a head in the 11th game when a double fault by Fritz handed Mpetshi Perricard the advantage, which he swiftly converted with a backhand.Finishing the match off with two aces, the big-serving 22-year-old said he could be proud of himself."It was tough to be honest, tough conditions, very humid," he said."The game at 5-5 (in the second set), it was terrible. I thought I was dying on the court," he chuckled.Mpetshi Perricard will next face 11th-ranked Dane Holger Rune, who beat France's Ugo Humbert, 6-4, 6-4.reb/pst

Novak Djokovic vowed to "continue fighting" for Grand Slam titles after his US Open semi-final exit to Carlos Alcaraz on Friday. Djokovic, whose dream of a record 25th Grand Slam title ended in a straight-sets loss to Alcaraz, pledged to keep playing next year."I'm not giving up on Grand Slams, I'm going to continue fighting," the 38-year-old Serbian legend said after his 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 defeat. "I still want to play a full Grand Slam season next year. They are just different from any other tournament. They are the pillars of our sport."Djokovic had warned before Friday's semi-final he would need to be in peak physical condition to stand a chance of toppling the 22-year-old Alcaraz. The Spaniard has dominated men's tennis alongside Italian world number one Jannik Sinner in recent seasons, with the duo splitting the last seven Grand Slam tournaments between them.However Djokovic said he had faded after running Alcaraz close in the opening two sets in Friday's semi-final. "I ran out of gas after the second set," he said. "I think I had enough energy to battle him and to keep up with his rhythm for two sets. After that I was gassed out, and he kept going," he added, stating that competing with his much younger rivals in future was only going to get more challenging."I'm happy with my level of tennis, but you know, it's just the physicality of it," Djokovic said. "As I said after the quarter-finals, I'm going to do my very best to get my body in shape to sustain that level and that rhythm for as many hours as it's needed, but it wasn't enough. That's something I, unfortunately at this point in time in my career, can't control. I can do only as much as I can do. It will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the hurdle of Sinner, Alcaraz, in the best-of-five on the Grand Slams. I think I have a better chance best-of-three, but best-of-five, it's tough."Djokovic though said he had no problem coming off second best to the duo who have collectively become known as "Sincaraz". "It's never fun losing a tennis match, but at the same time, if I'm to lose to someone, I would lose to these two guys," Djokovic said. "I know that they are just better at the moment. You just have to hand it to them and say, 'Well done.'"His next stop on the ATP Tour will be in Athens and Djokovic said it was too soon to say whether he would play at Melbourne Park next year. "At least at this stage of my career, I mean, I'm not thinking that far," he told reporters. "I still want to play Grand Slams, Grand Slam season, full Grand Slam season next year. Let's see whether that's going to happen or not."