Carlos Alcaraz masters Alex De Minaur to secure maiden Melbourne semifinal
Carlos Alcaraz moved into his first Australian Open semifinal on Tuesday. The Spaniard defeated local favorite Alex De Minaur in straight sets. The final score was 7-5, 6-2, 6-1. Alcaraz now awaits a semifinal clash with Alexander Zverev.
Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open 2026 | © Imago / psNewz
The world number one is officially into the last four in Melbourne for the first time in his career. Carlos Alcaraz continued his dominant run at the 2026 Australian Open with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 victory over the number six seed, Alex De Minaur.
This result means the 22-year-old Spaniard has now reached four consecutive Grand Slam semifinals. He has not dropped a single set across five matches so far this season.
The match began with an incredible display of shot-making from the top seed. Carlos Alcaraz sprinted to an early lead, but the defensive skills of the Australian soon turned the first set into a physical battle. Alex De Minaur sought his first major semifinal after a quarterfinal loss to Jannik Sinner in 2025.
De Minaur’s resistance faded
He recovered from an early break to push the Spaniard, but Alcaraz showed mental strength to clinch the opener 7-5. From that point on, the level of the Spaniard remained high while the resistance of the Australian faded. While Alex De Minaur previously beat Mackenzie McDonald, Hamad Medjedovic, number 29 seed Frances Tiafoe, and number 10 seed Alexander Bublik to reach the quarterfinals, he could not find a solution for the power of the top seed.
“It’s really difficult to play a player like him, Alcaraz said. I started the match really really well, hitting the ball really well. I think in just two games I made like 7 or 8 winners. It was a great level. With Alex you are always in a rush. So you want to hit the ball as hard as you can every ball, which is impossible against him. From 3-0 to 4-3, 4-4… I just wanted everything in a rush. I took a moment, took a break… Mentally I was always there… and I was more patient from 4-4 to the end of the match, which was great for me. Playing against someone like Alex is always really difficult. You have to be really focused on every ball. You have to win the point almost 3 or 4 times.”
The victory marks the 10th Grand Slam semifinal for the young champion. To reach this stage, he previously defeated Adam Walton, Yannick Hanfmann, number 32 seed Corentin Moutet, and number 19 seed Tommy Paul. His path now leads to a matchup against number three seed Alexander Zverev. The German holds a notable previous win over Alcaraz in the 2024 quarterfinals at this venue, which adds a layer of revenge to the upcoming contest.
Top seed Alcaraz faces Zverev after flawless run continues
The statistics for the Spaniard in 2026 are nearly perfect. He holds a 5-0 record and has won 15 consecutive sets. At only 22 years old, he stands just one victory away from a fourth consecutive Grand Slam final.
The upcoming semifinal against Alexander Zverev will be a clash between the top seed and the number three seed. It represents a significant hurdle for the Spaniard as he seeks to add the Australian Open trophy to his collection. The crowd in Melbourne witnessed a masterclass in power and patience on Tuesday, and the world number one appears ready for the final weekend of the tournament.
