Alcaraz Zverev Australian Open five-set win
Carlos Alcaraz fought through extreme physical strain and cramps to defeat Alexander Zverev in one of the most gruelling matches of the tournament. Alcaraz won 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 in a battle that lasted five hours and 27 minutes, making it the longest semifinal in the event’s history. The match featured intense momentum swings. Alcaraz started strong, securing the first two sets, but then struggled with a cramp in his right thigh and groin, leading to a medical timeout in the middle of the match. Zverev capitalised and fought back, taking the third and fourth sets in tiebreaks to force a deciding fifth. In the final set, Alcaraz rallied with remarkable resilience and broke Zverev’s serve when the German was serving to stay in the match at 5-4. With that decisive break and strong play in the closing games, Alcaraz closed out the match to reach the Australian Open final. The Spaniard, who became the youngest man in the Open era to reach the final of all four Grand Slams with this victory, credited self-belief and determination for his comeback. The victory keeps him on course for a potential career Grand Slam and drew widespread praise for his mental strength and fighting spirit in difficult physical conditions.
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