Carlos Alcaraz battled cramps and injury to defeat Alexander Zverev in a gripping five-set semifinal on Friday, becoming the youngest man in the Open era to reach the final of all four Grand Slam tournaments and booking his maiden Australian Open final.
The 22-year-old Spaniard prevailed 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5 in a marathon lasting five hours and 27 minutes at Rod Laver Arena, producing one of the longest semifinals in the tournament’s history.
Alcaraz, who had not dropped a set in the tournament before the semifinal, was two points away from victory in the third set before Zverev forced the contest deep. The German levelled the match by taking the third and fourth sets on tiebreaks, pushing the encounter into a deciding fifth set.
During the third set, Alcaraz appeared hampered by discomfort in his upper right leg and required medical treatment. Despite restricted movement, he continued to strike winners and remained competitive, drawing strong support from the crowd.
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Zverev, seeded third, maintained his composure and held his nerve through the fourth set, which he controlled before again asserting himself in the tiebreak. With more than four hours played, the match moved into a fifth set, the first five-set contest on centre court at the 2026 Australian Open.
Alcaraz dropped serve in the opening game of the decider but stayed in contention, earning multiple break points. Momentum shifted midway through the set when he produced a sprinting forehand winner after chasing down a drop shot, igniting the home crowd.
The Spaniard finally broke back when Zverev served for the match at 5-4, then held to take the lead before converting his first match point as Zverev attempted to force a continuation.
Alcaraz will face either two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner or 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic in the final, as he bids to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.
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