MELBOURNE – In a marathon semifinal that tested every ounce of his resilience, Carlos Alcaraz stormed into his maiden Australian Open final by outlasting Alexander Zverev in a gripping five-set thriller on Friday.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, battling through injury and cramps, triumphed 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 after over five hours of relentless tennis at Rod Laver Arena. This marks Alcaraz’s first appearance in the Australian Open men’s singles final, a significant milestone in his young career.
The match turned dramatic when Alcaraz called for a medical timeout midway through, prompting visible frustration from Zverev. The German star argued vehemently with officials, insisting cramps shouldn’t warrant such a break during play. Undeterred, Alcaraz received treatment from his physio and returned with renewed vigor.
Despite dropping the third and fourth sets in tense tiebreaks, Alcaraz dug deep in the decider, clinching victory on his opponent’s errors. Post-match, the duo shared a warm embrace, burying any on-court tensions.
‘I always say you have to believe in yourself no matter what,’ Alcaraz reflected. ‘This was one of the toughest physical matches of my career. I struggled in the third set, but I’ve been in these situations before. I put my heart into every point and fought until the last ball.’
His triumph sets up a blockbuster final against the winner of Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner. A victory there would make Alcaraz the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam in the Open Era.
Novak Djokovic, preparing for his own semifinal, was quick to congratulate Alcaraz, hailing the Spaniard’s mental fortitude. Tennis fans worldwide are now braced for what promises to be an unforgettable championship clash Down Under.