Carlos Alcaraz is unlikely to forget January 30 for the rest of his life. Just last year, the Spaniard had battled for five hours and 29 minutes to claim the French Open final against Jannik Sinner. In 2026, he took that endurance to another level, producing an epic display of courage, skill, and sheer willpower to reach the Australian Open final.
With the win, Alcaraz also kept alive his dreams of a Career Grand Slam. Alcaraz, who’s looking to win his seventh Grand Slam title, defeated Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 in a gruelling men’s singles semi-final that lasted five hours and 27 minutes, a match that will long be remembered as a modern classic.
At just 22, he became the youngest man in the Open Era to reach the final at all four Grand Slam tournaments, surpassing the record set by Jim Courier in 1993. The victory also preserved Alcaraz’s career record of never losing a match after winning the first two sets, a testament to his focus and composure.
Alcaraz started the match in commanding fashion, winning the first two sets and appearing in full control. But the tide turned as Zverev began to fight back, testing every ounce of the Spaniard’s resilience. From the end of the second set, Alcaraz battled cramps that threatened to derail his campaign, while Zverev clawed his way back into the match with relentless energy. Yet, in the dying stages of the fifth set, Alcaraz summoned every bit of courage and mental strength, producing clutch shots under immense pressure to have the last laugh.
"Believing. Believing all the time," Alcaraz said after the match.
"I always said that you have to believe in yourself, no matter the struggles you go through. You have to believe in yourself. I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically, it was one of the most demanding matches I've played in my short career."
"But I've been in these kinds of situations, these kinds of matches before. I had to put my heart into the match. I fought until the last ball," Alcaraz added.
For Zverev, it was heartbreak—he fought through the longest match of his career, only to fall agonizingly short. In the final, Alcaraz will face the winner of the second semi-final between reigning Melbourne Park champion Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, who has also won the Australian Open ten times.
ALCARAZ TAKES CHARGE
Alexander Zverev set the tone early, opening the match with a booming hold of serve and immediately signalling his intent to dictate from the baseline. His backhand crosscourt created sharp angles and early pressure, but Carlos Alcaraz responded calmly, mixing power with precision to settle into the contest.
The opening exchanges were tense and high quality, with both players holding serve and trading heavy rallies. Zverev survived an early break point with clutch serving, but the first turning point came when a double fault at a crucial moment handed Alcaraz the breakthrough. The Spaniard seized control from the baseline and closed out the opening set in 40 minutes.
The second set proved far more dramatic. Zverev raised his level and surged to a 5-3 lead, attacking the net and threatening to draw level. Alcaraz, however, showed remarkable resilience, breaking back when Zverev served for the set and forcing a tiebreak. What followed was a gruelling 78-minute battle, with both players absorbing and countering relentless aggression. Alcaraz elevated his game in the decisive moments, holding his nerve in the tiebreak to claim it 7–5 and move two sets ahead.
ZVEREV BOUNCES BACK
Refusing to fade, Zverev dug deep in the third. The German held firm under sustained pressure as Alcaraz began to show signs of physical discomfort, with cramps briefly interrupting the flow. The set stayed finely balanced, neither player giving an inch on serve, before Zverev forced a tiebreak. This time, the momentum swung decisively. Zverev dominated the breaker, finally converting his chances to take the set and breathe life back into the contest.
The fourth set turned into a test of endurance and belief. Alcaraz, slower than usual but buoyed by the Rod Laver Arena crowd, fought to stay in touch, producing bursts of brilliance despite his physical struggles. Zverev remained clinical on serve, conserving energy and repeatedly closing out games with authority.
Alcaraz saved break points with courage and flair, feeding off the crowd as the tension escalated, but Zverev’s consistency told. He held his nerve in the closing stages, sealing the set with a clean winner to complete the comeback and force a deciding fifth after nearly five hours of gripping tennis.
ALCARAZ SURVIVES THRILLER
In the fifth set, Carlos Alcaraz produced a sensational comeback to deny Alexander Zverev a spot in back-to-back Australian Open finals. After dropping his serve early and falling 2-0 behind, Alcaraz faced relentless pressure from Zverev’s clever drop shots and aggressive play. Refusing to give in, he earned a crucial break back at 4-3, signaling that he would not be denied.
Drawing on sheer grit and determination, he sparked a deafening “Vamos!” from the Rod Laver Arena crowd. With momentum firmly in his favour, Alcaraz held serve to move ahead 6-5, leaving a spent Zverev searching for answers. He forced back-to-back break points and capitalized on a key unforced error to seal a 7-5 victory in the fifth set.
It was a masterclass in resilience, stamina, and mental toughness. Alcaraz not only survived Zverev’s comeback but completely turned the tide, delivering a finish that will be remembered as one of the most thrilling moments in Australian Open history.
