Carlos Alcaraz overcomes injury scare and Alexander Zverev in five-set thriller to reach his maiden Melbourne final at the 2026 Australian Open
C. Alcaraz vs A. Zverev | Australian Open
Men's Singles | Semi-final | 30.01.2026 | Rod Laver Arena
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Finished
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C. Alcaraz (1)
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A. Zverev (3)
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Updated 30/01/2026 at 09:48 GMT
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- Highlights
09:50
WATCH THE BEST OF THE ACTION AS ALCARAZ REACHES THE FINAL AFTER A FIVE-SET EPIC
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Highlights: Alcaraz overcomes cramp to beat Zverev in five-set thriller
Video credit: TNT Sports
Stream every match of the 2026 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+
09:38
THE TNT SPORTS EXPERTS WAX LYRICAL AFTER ALCARAZ-ZVEREV CLASSIC
Tim Henman: "It’s belief, it is that attitude that got him across the line. He certainly needs someone to carry his bags after five hours and 27 minutes. But even after all those physical struggles, his mentality got him across the line.
"He never gave up on himself, he continued to believe he would come up with solutions. He said I’ll get my chance, and he was down all the way in the fifth, Zverev served for it at 5-4 and he was able to break serve and even on that final point to sprint across the baseline and make that final passing shot was just absolutely incredible."
Jamie Murray: "Truly incredible match, it is hard to digest it. It was going one way traffic, Carlos was kind of in control of the match and his body started to let him down and the atmosphere changed on the court, in the stadium.
"It was a very weird spectacle in the end for a couple of hours, But tennis is all about head, heart and legs and when Carlos didn’t have his legs, he had this [gestures to heart] and this [gestures to head]. The way he dealt with the cramping, he stayed calm, he didn’t panic which could be worse in that situation. He hung in there for 45 minutes, an hour to try to recover himself physically, which he did.
"You can talk about tactics or how they hit the ball or whatever, but that was all heart - it was inspiring to watch that, it was just incredible."
09:28
ALCARAZ REACTS TO AN ASTONISHING FIVE-SET VICTORY TO REACH FIRST AO FINAL
Asked how on earth he won this tennis match during his on-court interview, Alcaraz says: "Believing. Believing all the time.
"I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what, no matter how you are struggling. No matter anything you've got to be believing in yourself all the time.
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'You have to believe in yourself' says Alcaraz after incredible win
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I was struggling in the middle of the third set, you know; 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 kind of situations, these kind of matches before, so I knew what I had to do. I had to put my heart into the match. I did it, I fought until the last ball, I knew that I was going to have my chances.
"I'm just extremely proud of myself; the way I battled and way I came back in the fifth set."
Asked about the chance to become the youngest man to win the Career Grand Slam on Sunday, he added: "Thank you for putting so much pressure on me right now. No kidding, kidding, don’t worry.
"I'm just really happy to have the chance to play my first final here in Melbourne. It was something that I was chasing a lot, having the chance to fight for the title.
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'Unbelievable' Alcaraz beats Zverev in five-set epic
Video credit: TNT Sports
09:19
ALCARAZ STATS
Alcaraz (22 years 258 days) is the youngest player in the Open Era to reach the Men’s Singles Final at all four Grand Slams.
09:15
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GAME, SET AND MATCH! – ALCARAZ 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 7-5 ZVEREV
Carlos Alcaraz is one win away from achieving the Career Grand Slam!
The top seed books his spot in a maiden Australian Open final as he prevails in a five-set thriller to triumph in five hours and 27 minutes – a record for a men’s semi-final at Melbourne Park.
The six-time major winner battled hard after big concerns late in the third set with either a muscle tweak or cramp hampering his movement.
Ultimately, Zverev could not take advantage despite hitting back from two sets down - and leading by a break in the fifth - and the 22-year-old’s condition improved enough to get over the line.
Alcaraz - who hit back from 3-5 down to reel off four games in a row and seal victory on a first MP with a sublime stretch forehand down the line - will now face Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s showdown for the trophy.
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Image credit: Getty Images
09:14
ZVEREV SERVING TO STAY IN THE MATCH
Zverev lashes down an ace and stays in front at 30-15 when Alcaraz sizzles a forehand just long.
The Spaniard turns the screw at Pulp with a deep backhand, but Sascha gets to game point with a clutch serve.
Alcaraz battles to deuce and earns match point when the German misfires off the forehand...
09:08
ALCARAZ 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 6-5 ZVEREV
Both arms in the air!
Alcaraz feeds off the crowd’s energy as he hits the front on the board with a dominant hold to 15.
Zverev must now hold to stay in the tournament just moments after having the opportunity to book his spot in the final…
09:06
09:04
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BREAK! - ALCARAZ 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 5-5 ZVEREV
On we go!
Zverev can’t get the start he wants as tight, passive play allows Alcaraz to fire a forehand winner and begin his all-or-nothing assault.
The German misses a backhand to intensify his inner anxiety and is relieved when Alcaraz drills an inside-in forehand into the alley.
There’s no escape on the next point and Carlitos hammers a belting forehand winner to earn two break back points.
It's too safe and nervy from Sascha and he pays the price as he slices long on the defensive.
08:59
ALCARAZ 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 4-5 ZVEREV
Alcaraz salutes the crowd and asks for more noise as he forces the serve-out question with a hold to 30.
Zverev had some half chances there but will now need to focus and keep the nerves under control as he looks to serve this epic contest out.
08:54
ALCARAZ 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 3-5 ZVEREV
Zverev conjures up a clever forehand wrong-footer back-in-behind and then rattles a beautiful forehand winner down the line to hit back from 0-30.
A 1-2 punch off the backhand puts him in charge but a shank from the mid-court allows Carlitos to reach deuce.
The third seed doesn’t do enough with a tricky half volley and the speed and ferocity of Alcaraz’s pass forces the break point with a volley long.
The Spaniard is on the front foot in the ensuing rally but drills a backhand into the net.
The world number one comes again as he hits through the German at the net but an over-zealous forehand sees him blow the second BP.
Zverev picks off a dropper to wrestle back the momentum and somehow claws his way out of dodge as he scorches an incredible forehand winner down the line on the run.
08:45
VIDEO: CARLOS ALCARAZ DOING CARLOS ALCARAZ THINGS AT ROD LAVER ARENA
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Alcaraz wins 'scarcely believable' point in semi-final thriller
Video credit: TNT Sports
Stream every match of the 2026 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+
08:44
ALCARAZ 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 3-4 ZVEREV
Zverev looks a touch out of gas with a tired forehand wide and a wander off court on the next point that allows Carlitos to hook a winner to the wide open space.
The Spaniard executes another clinical forehand winner and the German fizzes long after offering a brief riposte.
08:40
ALCARAZ 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 2-4 ZVEREV
Alcaraz almost does the splits as he slides deep to his right to flick an audacious pass well beyond Zverev’s reach.
It has the crowd on their feet and sees the top seed hit back from 30-0 down.
The Spaniard follows it with a crushing crosscourt return winner but then blows the break point with an over-excited forehand that leaps off the tape and away from the island.
One of the rallies of the match ensues and you’d be backing Alcaraz, but it’s Sascha’s forehand that steals the spotlight with a spellbinding winner deep down the line.
The world number one then flashes just long on the return and you have to say that's some hold from the 28-year-old after Alcaraz had started to red-line.
08:34
WELL WORTH ANOTHER LOOK!
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'Quality of tennis is off the charts!' - Alcaraz wins superb point
Video credit: TNT Sports
Stream every match of the 2026 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+
08:32
ALCARAZ 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 2-3 ZVEREV
Zverev turns from defence into attack with an explosive crosscourt forehand winner on the run to threaten at 15-30.
The third seed undoes his own good work with a weak strike off that wing into the net off a rallying ball and Alcaraz scorches away a forehand to turn the tables.
The Spaniard’s improvised serve and volley flies way off the island to give Sascha another look at potential insurance from deuce, but the six-time Grand Slam champion eventually does enough with a delicate half volley to remain in the hunt.
08:23
ALCARAZ 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 1-3 ZVEREV
Zverev looks to be cruising when he follows up strong work off the backhand with a massive serve to move 40-0 up.
Alcaraz bites back with the next two points and then makes deuce with a rocket backhand down the line.
The pendulum completely swings as a deep return tees up a weak response that the top seed seizes upon with a crisp forehand winner.
Zverev can’t find the first serve on the break point, but Alcaraz lets him off the hook with a return long.
It’s déjà vu as the Spaniard can’t hide his frustration as he fails to find the target, but the German's tame volley into the net follows a tight backhand that went the same way to offer up a second break opportunity.
However, Zverev finally finds the big first serve with two huge deliveries and eventually comes through a 12-minute game when Carlitos drills a forehand with extra zip into the net.
08:11
ALCARAZ 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 1-2 ZVEREV
‘Vamos’ – is the defiant yell from Alcaraz as he stays in contention with a convincing hold to 15.
08:07
ALCARAZ 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 0-2 ZVEREV
The world number three looks so calm at present.
This was a significant game and he passed the test with flying colours courtesy of a hold to 15.
08:03
BREAK! – ALCARAZ 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 0-1 ZVEREV
Zverev throws everything into a breathtaking rally at Pulp (30-30) but Alcaraz unleashes a spectacular forehand down the line after the German had counter-punched his way into a dominant position via the re-direct off the backhand.
The top seed is pushed to deuce when he can only slice into the net under pressure and then coughs up the break point with a miscued forehand.
For once, the six-time major winner can’t find the solution and an ill-timed double fault sees Zverev take the lead in the match for the first time since the opening set.