Carlos Alcaraz is on cloud nine after winning the seventh Grand Slam of his career at the Australian Open.
Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in four sets to win his first title of the season and confirm his status as the youngest male player to achieve the Career Grand Slam.
The Spaniard’s record-breaking tournament saw him become just the second player to win seven Grand Slams before they turn 23, after Bjorn Borg.
Legendary American coach Brad Gilbert spotted something new about Alcaraz at the Australian Open, which he has likened to Roger Federer.
Brad Gilbert hails Carlos Alcaraz’s Roger Federer-like talent
Speaking on social media, Brad Gilbert waxed lyrical about Alcaraz’s performance in the Australian Open final.
Alcaraz bounced back from losing the first set to produce a blistering display in the next three sets to lift the trophy.
“I was thinking after that third set and how he started to take things up in the second and third set,” said the American coach.
Can Carlos Alcaraz win MORE Grand Slams than Novak Djokovic? 🤔
“Carlos has always had an amazing forehand; the variety, the injection of pace, but now, kind of Fed-like, is his ability to absorb pace and I think that’s often overlooked.”
Gilbert believes Alcaraz’s defensive play has allowed him to become a multi-time Grand Slam champion.
“There’s a lot of players that have great forehands when they’re on their front foot or they’re not being pressured with it. His ability to absorb pace and his ability to defend with it and his variety.
“He hits some forehands off of his back foot, falling backwards, short angle cross courts. They were just exquisite and obviously the work that he’s done with Samuel Lopez really showed up. I thought the serve was incredible and what’s really improved too was his serve +1.”
How Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic to win the Australian Open
Despite losing the first set to Djokovic, Alcaraz went on to dominate the match and the statistics look very strong for the new Australian Open champion.
He outscored Djokovic in most areas, including aces, winners, and total points won across the Australian Open final.
| Carlos Alcaraz | Novak Djokovic | |
| 9 | Aces | 4 |
| 2 | Double faults | 2 |
| 65% | First serve % | 69% |
| 77% | Winning % first serve | 66% |
| 57% | Winning % second serve | 53% |
| 70% | Net points won | 63% |
| 31% | Break points won | 33% |
| 37% | Receiving points won | 28% |
| 36 | Winners | 32 |
| 27 | Unforced errors | 46 |
| 118 | Total points won | 106 |
Djokovic hit 46 unforced errors against Alcaraz, which still you the level the world number one was operating at.
The only statistics where Djokovic is stronger than Alcaraz were first serve percentage and break points won.
