The 25-shot rally that downed Djokovic, and the outrageous shot that wasn’t enough

Late in the fourth and final set of the Australian Open final, Carlos Alcaraz was ready to deliver the knockout blow.

It was Djokovic’s third-last service game. He had recovered from 0-30 and three times turned to the crowd for further inspiration.

The 10-time AO champion had drawn level at 5-5, but faced the brutal reality that he had to win this game or it was lights out. Djokovic was looking for his moment to strike. But, alas, it was not for Djokovic and nearly 20 years of an unblemished record in Australian Open finals was about to end.

Alcaraz , the world No.1 and dominant force in men’s tennis, won the decisive point – a 25-shot rally that confirmed it was the Spaniard’s night to create history by becoming the youngest man to achieve the career grand slam. 

There hadn’t been a break of serve in the set and the tension was palpable. Enter Alcaraz, maybe better described as “The Wall” for the defensive brilliance that had left Djokovic frustrated.

On this clutch point, the pair slugged it out from the baseline. Mostly, it was Djokovic who dragged his opponent from side to side but Alcaraz, 16 years younger, chased down a series of backhands, before making Djokovic reach to his backhand side. Five shots later, Djokovic dumped a backhand into the net.

Novak Djokovic reaches for a shot.Credit: Eddie Jim

Alcaraz pumped his fist. Djokovic was left on his haunches, gasping for air as he went for his towel. The match wasn’t over, but it soon would be for Alcaraz needed only four more points to close out the win and re-write tennis history.

Novak turns back the clock in opening set

Djokovic had powered through the opening set 6-2.

“Game-wise, you saw it. For the first set was one of the best sets I’ve played the last couple years,” the 38-year-old said afterwards.

The world No.4’s serve was on song; he won those points at 93 per cent. His error count was low, and he didn’t squander break point chances either.

Alcaraz knew he was in for a battle. “The first set, I think he [Djokovic] played great,” he said. “I was hitting the ball well. I was moving well. I think all I can say I played well the first set but in front of me I had a great and inspired Novak [who] was playing great, great shots.”

An ounce of luck for Alcaraz

The match changed complexion slowly through the second set.

Alcaraz was the beneficiary of a weird let cord in the third game. One of his forehands had enough power behind it to almost force its way through the net. Instead, it popped up and basically dropped dead in Djokovic’s court. On replay, the footage showed the ball hit the bottom of the net first instead of the court itself.

The Spanish maestro raised both hands as if to say “don’t blame me – I had nothing to do with it”. Both players walked back to prepare for the next point with a look of bemusement.

“Oh my God, it hit the net and dribbled,” Jim Courier said on Nine. “You don’t see that every day. It kicked off the tape, went straight up and came down into the netting.” Todd Woodbridge explained further: “I think it might have actually caught the cables that go into the [net] cameras that sit on the centre strap [of the net].”

An audacious shot around the net post goes to waste

The third set produced the point of the match. A desperate and hard-running Djokovic was good enough to chase down a wide ball, and his next shot curled around the net post. But it wasn’t enough. Alcaraz stretched to his forehand side and put the ball across the net, out of Djokovic’s reach to take the point.

Alcaraz raised both arms and then put his finger to his ear to soak up the applause, which to be fair was for both players. Djokovic, hands on hips and standing almost with the courtside photographers, raised his eyebrows. What more could he do?

Alcaraz again with the put-away shot

In the opening game of the fourth set, the Spainard’s defensive strength again proved the difference. He forced Djokovic to play that extra shot in a rally – either creating an error on the Serbian’s racquet or winning the point on comfortable terms. This rally lasted 16 shots but, and Alcaraz finished the point with a simple put-away into an open court.

It summed up the pattern of play.

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