Carlos Alcaraz was the deserved Australian Open champion, having battled through his draw with impressive poise.
Realistically, he went unchallenged until the semi-finals, and even then, was it not for cramps, the Spaniard seemed set to claim a routine straight-sets victory over Alexander Zverev.
Alas, he had to showcase immeasurable grit to get that victory, thus setting up a mouth-watering clash with Novak Djokovic in the final, with history on the line.
Despite a shaky first set, during which he looked nervous as his opponent came out firing, Carlos Alcaraz slowly grew into the match before taking control.
Do you believe Carlos Alcaraz is already the greatest tennis player of all time?
Andy Roddick thinks that one thing that he noticed, which arguably won him that final, would not have happened a few years ago.
Carlos Alcaraz’s big change that won him the Australian Open final
Speaking on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, the American pundit was unsurprisingly effusive in his praise for Alcaraz.
However, what seems to impress this former world number one more than anything is the 22-year-old’s drive to keep progressing as a player, despite being the best on the planet by some distance.
Roddick would pinpoint another improvement, noting: “Three or four years ago, does he steady [after he loses the first set]? Two years ago at the Aussie Open, once Novak started gaining on him, you could see he was uncomfortable.
“But steadying the ship and saying I know you have done it 24 times, but at least up until this match, I have done it six times in a pretty short amount of time. He is getting to that point where he is going to get settled.
“He hasn’t really seen much before, and he knew that he had more options and more different pathways to victory. Whereas I think the pathway was a little bit narrower for Novak strategically.”
He has blended this work ethic and desire for growth with his already-established carefree attitude, as exhibited by what Alcaraz said to John McEnroe after losing that first set of the final.
What Novak Djokovic told Carlos Alcaraz after the final
Speaking in his Australian Open press conference, one reporter sought to find out exactly what words were exchanged by Alcaraz and Djokovic immediately after the final had concluded.
He replied: “All right. 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.
Can Carlos Alcaraz win MORE Grand Slams than Novak Djokovic? 🤔
“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.”
