Carlos Alcaraz claimed the 2026 Australian Open title, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final to become the youngest man in the Open Era to complete a Career Grand Slam. The win propelled Alcaraz to the top of the ATP rankings with 13,650 points, ahead of Jannik Sinner's 10,300. The tournament results highlight a shifting landscape in men's tennis.
The 2026 Australian Open, held at Melbourne Park's Rod Laver Arena, concluded with Carlos Alcaraz securing his seventh Grand Slam singles title at age 22. In the final, Alcaraz overcame a strong start from Djokovic, winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 after the Serbian took the first set. This victory marked Alcaraz's first Australian Open crown and completed his Career Grand Slam, surpassing previous records for youth in the Open Era.
Jannik Sinner, the defending champion from 2025, reached the semi-finals but fell to Djokovic in five sets, ending his 19-match winning streak at the event. Sinner's performance earned him 800 ranking points, replacing the 2,000 from his prior title, resulting in a net loss of 1,200 points. Alcaraz, meanwhile, added 1,600 points by advancing from last year's quarter-finals.
The updated ATP rankings reflect these outcomes, with Alcaraz at No. 1 (13,650 points), Sinner at No. 2 (10,300), and Djokovic holding No. 3 despite the final loss. The top 10 also features Alexander Zverev at No. 4, Lorenzo Musetti at No. 5, Alex de Minaur at No. 6, Taylor Fritz at No. 7, Félix Auger-Aliassime at No. 8, Ben Shelton at No. 9, and Alexander Bublik at No. 10.
Djokovic's defeat completed an unwanted Career Runners-Up Grand Slam, making him the fourth man in the Open Era to finish as runner-up at all four majors. He now joins Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray in this distinction, having previously lost finals at the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.
Looking ahead, Sinner benefits from no points to defend until May 2026, following a three-month suspension after his 2025 doping violation. This period includes key events like the Qatar Open and four Masters 1000 tournaments, where he can close the 3,350-point gap. Alcaraz, however, withdrew from the Rotterdam Open, dropping 500 points to 13,150 next week, though he has opportunities to defend and gain in upcoming Masters events.
