Melbourne, Jan 30 (.) Carlos Alcaraz has done it again. The World No. 1 dug deep in one of the most grueling matches of this Australian Open to edge past Alexander Zverev in a five-set thriller, 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 4-6, 7-5, booking his place in the final at Melbourne Park.
For a player battling leg issues and limited mobility, Alcaraz’s performance was nothing short of heroic, a masterclass in resilience, shot-making, and mental fortitude.
From the outset, it was clear this was going to be a battle of wills. Zverev, fresh from a year of injury recovery, started aggressively, using his booming forehands and precise serves to establish early control.
Alcaraz, however, remained composed, relying on strategic shot placement and his trademark court coverage. The first set saw the Spaniard take the crucial break at 5-4 after Zverev double-faulted at the worst possible moment, giving Alcaraz the early advantage.
The second set intensified the drama. Zverev surged to a 4-2 lead, looking to swing momentum his way, but Alcaraz, refusing to yield, clawed back through clutch holds and audacious drop shots. The set ultimately went to a tie-break, where Alcaraz’s relentless pressure forced errors from the German, sealing a 7-6(5) set win.
But Zverev, ever the fighter, refused to let the match slip. The third set was a war of attrition, with Zverev capitalizing on Alcaraz’s evident discomfort to take it 7-6(5) after a punishing tie-break. In the fourth, Zverev’s power game came to the fore; he broke Alcaraz and closed out the set 6-4, leveling the match and pushing it into a decider.
The fifth set was a testament to Alcaraz’s grit. Struggling to move freely, he still managed to dig balls out, maintain depth, and convert the critical points. Zverev served for the match at 5-4, but Alcaraz produced one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent Slam history, breaking back and finally taking the set 7-5.
His mixture of tactical brilliance and courage under pressure left the German shell-shocked and sent the fans into a frenzy.
Alcaraz now sets up a historic Australian Open final, with the chance to continue his meteoric rise and chase a career Grand Slam at just 22 years of age, a milestone only Rafael Nadal achieved slightly older.
On the doubles side, the Australian fans had plenty to cheer about. John Peers and Olivia Gadecki successfully defended their mixed doubles title, defeating Austria’s Lucas Miedler and Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2. The hometown duo continues to build a legacy at Melbourne Park, with Peers claiming his fourth Major doubles title and Gadecki cementing her status as a local hero.
This semifinal will be remembered not merely for the scoreline, but for the drama, the heart-stopping rallies, and the sheer grit of a 22-year-old chasing history. Tennis at its finest — high stakes, relentless intensity, and two players leaving everything on the court in a five-hour, 27-minute epic.
. . PRS