Alcaraz outlasts Zverev in legendary five-set epic to reach first Australian Open final
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5 on Friday after 5h27, to reach his first Australian Open final. The 22-year-old world No 1 overcame physical cramps and a 5-3 deficit in the deciding set to move within one victory of becoming the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam.
Carlos Alcaraz – Australian Open 2026 © Imago / Psnewz
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5 in a legendary semifinal that spanned nearly five and a half hours on Friday. In a match that fluctuated between high error counts and peaks of historic intensity, the top-seeded Spaniard proved his resilience by outlasting the No 3 seed despite suffering from visible cramps during the latter stages of the contest.
This is the third longest Australian open match ever, behind the epic final in 2012 between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, and the Murray – Kokkinakis of 2023.
With this victory, Alcaraz has now reached the final of all four Grand Slam tournaments, maintaining a perfect 6-0 record in 2026. He stands just one match away from his season goal: winning the only Major title missing from his trophy cabinet and securing his place as the youngest man to achieve the Career Grand Slam.
Courage and Lucidity Amidst Physical Turmoil
The match took a dramatic turn in the third set when Alcaraz began showing signs of physical distress at 4-4, appearing to struggle with either groin issues or cramps ; it appeared eventually to be cramps. At 5-4 in the third, Alcaraz was two points away for the win. The tension boiled over when Alcaraz received a medical timeout for cramping after a changeover, sparking a “scandal” from Zverev.
The German directed his frustration at the supervisor, stating, “He has cramps. This is absolute bullshit. That is unbelievable. You can not be serious. You protect the both of them. Its unbelievable.” Despite the controversy and the physical limitations, Alcaraz adopted a high-risk strategy, using drop shots and forehand winners to stay competitive, with a certain success – a style described by Patrick Mouratoglou as “walking on the court and hitting winners” during his live Twitch.
While the early stages of the match saw both players struggle with unforced errors while attempting to play at extreme speeds, the quality skyrocketed in the fourth and fifth sets. However, Zverev refused to fade, holding off Alcaraz during multiple 0-30 openings in the fourth set to win the tiebreak 6 points to 4 and force a decider.
Debreaking at the Death
The final set appeared to be leaning toward the German when Zverev broke to lead 5-3 and stepped up to serve for the match. However, Alcaraz displayed the courage and mental lucidity that have become his trademark in fifth sets. He broke back immediately at 15-40 and held his nerve to level the score at 5-5. In the final game, Alcaraz showcased a blend of risk and precision, eventually concluding the match on his first match point with a spectacular passing shot reminiscent of his winning strike at Roland-Garros.
Alcaraz now awaits the winner of the second semifinal between the No 4 seed Novak Djokovic and the second seed Jannik Sinner. His path to this historic final has included dominant wins over Alex de Minaur, Tommy Paul, and Corentin Moutet, but none tested his physical and mental fortitude like this five-set epic. As the world No 1 prepares for Sunday’s championship match, he has proven that neither a determined Zverev nor debilitating cramps can stop his march toward history.
