Australian Open: Injury-hit Carlos Alcaraz battles back from brink of defeat to edge Alexander Zverev in semi-final epic
Carlos Alcaraz overcomes cramp and resilient Alexander Zverev to reach his first Australian Open final against Jannik Sinner or Novak DjokovicWatch the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
Friday 30 January 2026 20:51, UK
Carlos Alcaraz battled back from cramps and injury and the brink of defeat to fend off Alexander Zverev in an Australian Open semi-final epic lasting five hours and 27 minutes.
Alcaraz, aiming to be the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, sealed a stunning 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 victory in a rollercoaster ride on Rod Laver Arena.
The 22-year-old was barely able to move after experiencing a problem midway through the third set, which he lost in a tie-break, and he relied on his sublime ball-striking and placement to land winners and prolong the contest.
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Alcaraz continued to battle away, seeing off Zverev in the decider and will aim to recover for a meeting with either Novak Djokovic, who is bidding for an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam singles title, or two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in Sunday's title clash.
Alcaraz said of how he found a way: "Believing all the time.
"I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what you're struggling, no matter anything. I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically it was one of the most demanding matches that I have ever played in my short career.
"But I've been in these kind of situations, in these kind matches so I knew what I had to do. I had to put my heart into the match. I did it, I fought until the last ball. Extremely proud about myself, about the way that I fought and came back during the fifth set.
"I'm just really happy to have the chance to play my first final in Melbourne. It was something I was chasing a lot."
Zverev said: "Unbelievable battle. Unfortunate ending for me. To be honest I had absolutely nothing left in me. Even at 5-4, normally I can rely on my serve a bit more, but my legs stopped pushing upwards. That's the way it is. This is life. We move on."
Conditions were hot on Friday, peaking at 29.8C, but nothing like they had been last weekend, when Sinner appeared to have been saved by the closing of the roof against Eliot Spizzirri when he was stricken by cramp.
Alcaraz's difficulties were initially not as dramatic, but he hit trouble in the ninth game of the third set having appeared to vomit into a towel a few minutes earlier, stretching and massaging his right thigh as he struggled to push off on the serve.
Cramp controversy
The sudden change in the arc of the match seemed to unsettle Zverev, who could not break and was then furious that Alcaraz was allowed to take a medical timeout - cramp is considered a loss of condition and treatment is usually limited to the length of the break at changes of ends.
Remarkably, Alcaraz was then two points from victory leading 6-5, despite barely being able to move, but Zverev managed to force a tie-break and do enough to win it.
The German, who benefited from Djokovic's retirement in the semi-finals last year before losing to Sinner, will have felt he should have been two sets to one up, having led 5-2 in the second set before missing a very makeable volley at 5-5 in the tie-break.
Alcaraz seized his opportunity with a big return and forehand, turning to his team and pointing at his head.
Fans were left holding their breath when it appeared like Alcaraz moved towards Zverev to shake his hand after the opening game of the fourth set and call it a day but 22-year-old showed his mental resolve as he battled to stay competitive.
Alcaraz said he did not think about quitting even for a single second despite his woes.
"I hate giving up," he declared. "I just don't want to feel that way. There are some moments that it seems like, 'OK, I'm giving up' or 'I'm not fighting at all' which when I was young there were a lot of matches that I didn't want to fight anymore.
"Then I got mature... Just one second more of suffering, one second more of fighting is always worth it. So that's why I just fight until the last ball and always believe that I can come back in every situation." .
He began to move more freely but there were still unexpected errors from the top seed and it was Zverev that proved the stronger again in the tie-break before breaking to start the decider.
Alcaraz whipped up the crowd as he sought a way back into the contest and both men were feeling the pace as the clock ticked towards and then beyond five hours.
Alcaraz was unable to convert break points at 2-3 and 3-4 but, trying to serve out arguably the biggest win of his career, Zverev played it too safe and paid the price.
His tail up again, Alcaraz piled on the pressure and a second consecutive break clinched his spot in an eighth major final.
Speaking during his press conference, Zverev said: "He was cramping. Normally you can't take a medical timeout for cramping. But what can I do? It's not my decision. I didn't like it, but it's not my decision.
"But to be honest I don't want to talk about this right now. I think this is one of the best battles there ever was in Australia. It doesn't deserve to be the topic."
Social media reaction
Explained: Alcaraz's medical timeout for cramp
Former British No 1 Laura Robson, speaking on TNT Sports:
"Zverev was complaining because you can't technically have a medical timeout for cramp. You can have the trainer on during a changeover but you are not allowed to take a full medical timeout for that issue.
"It's very hard for the physio in the moment to say: 'No I can't give you that treatment,' because as a player you might think it's cramp, but you also might think you've pulled a muscle."
Six-time Grand Slam semi-finalist Tim Henman, speaking on TNT Sports:
"It was about two-and-a-half hours into the match in a Grand Slam semi-final. If that's a best of three sets match in a Masters 1000 there's no way Alcaraz is cramping. In my mind, it has to have been stress related.
"The irony is he then did so well not to get stressed after that, to stay calm and relaxed and wait for his body to recover.
"Once he called to the umpire and needs the trainer, he's not going to say: 'I'm cramping in my leg.' I'm sure he'd say he had a twinge and can it be worked on."
British doubles legend Jamie Murray, speaking on TNT Sports:
"I don't think Zverev dealt with the situation particularly well.
"How he went about exploiting Alcaraz's deficiencies in that moment was very defensively minded.
"He didn't put his foot on the gas and really take it from him. He was given a gift from God and didn't make the most of it."
Tale of the Tape: Alcaraz vs Zverev
Henman: Alcaraz's attitude and mentality got him over the line
"It's exactly what he said in his first answer. It's believe. That attitude is what got him across the line," said Henman on TNT Sports.
"Even with all those physical struggles, it's his mentality that got him across the line. He never gave up on himself, he continued to believe that he would come up with solutions.
"He was down all the way in the fifth, Zverev served for the match, Alcaraz broke him and even for that final point, to sprint across the baseline and make one final passing shot was usta absolutely incredible."
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