Alcaraz Survives Injury Scare and Five-Hour Epic To Reach First Australian Open Final After Historic Win Over Zverev

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz overcame an injury concern and the loss of a two-set advantage to reach his maiden Australian Open final on Friday (Jan 30). Alcaraz defeated German Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 in a marathon semifinal that became the longest in AO history, lasting 5 hours and 27 minutes. The 22-year-old is now the youngest player to reach all four grand slam finals in open era history and will become the youngest to complete the career grand slam should he win on Sunday (Feb 1). Alcaraz has already won the other three grand slams twice each: French Open in 2024 & 2025, Wimbledon in 2023 & 2024, and US Open in 2022 & 2025.

ALCARAZ CALLS SEMI VS ZVEREV ‘PHYSICALLY DEMANDING’

“I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what,” Alcaraz said during the on-court interview. “No matter what you’re struggling [with, what] you’ve been through, no matter anything, you gotta still believe in yourself all the time.

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“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, I would say, but I’ve been in these kinds of situations,” he added.

WHAT NEXT FOR ALCARAZ?

The Spaniard will now play the winner of Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner for his maiden Australian Open title on Sunday (Feb 1). Sinner is the two-time defending champion of the tournament while Djokovic is a 10-time AO champion – making the final not at all easy for Alcaraz. The six-time grand slam champion, however, has faced Sinner in the last three grand slam finals and leads 2-1 with victories at the French Open and US Open while losing at Wimbledon. Djokovic, on the other hand, has won 24 grand slam titles and winning one more would make him the most successful player of all time, male or female.