AUSTRALIAN OPEN – Carlos Alcaraz (22) will play for his first title at the Australian Open. In a huge battle, despite health problems, he managed Alexander Zverev (28) in the semi-finals after sets of 6:4, 7:6, 6:7, 6:7 and 7:5. He will fight for his first title from Melbourne with the winner of the duel between Jannik Sinner (24) and Novak Djokovic (38).
Alcaraz – Zverev 6:4, 7:6, 6:7, 6:7, 7:5
Alcaraz and Zverev had a completely even balance of 6:6 before the semi-final battle. The opening exchanges of the thirteenth mutual clash took place in the same spirit. In the first six games, none of the tennis players admitted any problems on their serve. He was the first German tennis player to reach them after the Spaniard’s fantastic backhand crosshand, but he quickly dealt with the threat of a break.
What came out of the world number three in the seventh game, she could not repeat a moment later. At 4:4, Zverev faced another break point threat and this time he made the situation much easier for his opponent when he lost his serve after a double fault. Alcaraz did not disdain the offered opportunity to add to the first set, he won the game on his service without any problems with a clean game and after 35 minutes of the game he took the opening act in the ratio 6:4.
Right in the opening game of the second set, Zverev had to fight a lot for his serve in an almost ten-minute game. But he was able to avert the threat of losing the opening serve and took the lead. From his point of view, Alcaraz got into the first serious problems with his service at 2:3, when he offered the opponent a 40:0 lead with several unnecessary errors. He fended off the first two threats, but not the third, and when Zverev confirmed the break, the Spaniard took the deficit to 2:5.
Even this state did not break the six-time Grand Slam champion. By betting on maximum aggressiveness, he was able to erase the loss and level the score at 5:5. In the 11th game, the fired-up Alcaraz created two more break opportunities, but the native of Hamburg was able to cope with the difficult situation thanks to his excellent serve. The result of the second set had to be decided by a shortened game. In it, the first minibreak did not come until 6:5 for Alcaraz, which also brought him victory in the second set and a 2:0 lead.
In the opening game of the third set, Zverev created a chance to take his opponent’s serve, but he did not use the opportunity. In the rest of the game, both tennis players held their serves without any major problems. With the score 4:4, the Spanish favorite got into trouble, as he began to suffer from cramps. The subsequent exchanges were played by Alcaraz at maximum risk, trying to finish quickly. He managed to win the game and subsequently requested a physiotherapist on the court.
Apparently limited in movement, the Spaniard continued to play. However, he played the exchanges at absolute risk, yet with the support of the fans he managed to bring the set to a tie-break. In it, he was no longer able to resist the opponent and lost the shortened game clearly 3:7.
After a short treatment, the injured Spaniard entered the fourth set, but his movement on the court clearly indicated problems. He often tried to surprise his opponent with short cuts or extremely risky strikes, and this tactic worked for him.
At 2:3, Alcaraz also averted two opponent break points and evened the pace. After all, the condition of the world number one improved with the passing minutes. The Spaniard managed to hold his own much better in the exchanges and did not give his opponent any more chances for a potential break in the fourth set.
Even the fourth act had to be decided by a tie-break after four hours of fighting. In it, the German tennis player once again had the upper hand, winning it 7:4 and sending the match to the fifth set.
It started very badly for the world number one, when she lost the opening serve. Alcaraz had a chance to equalize in the fourth game, when he led 40:15 on Zverev’s serve, but he did not convert any of the opportunities. The Spaniard earned his third break point in the set in the sixth game as well, even this time his opponent did not allow him to break the serve.
He had another chance on the return even at 3:4, but Zverev did well in the key moments and continued to hold his serve. But the world number three did not take the warning to heart. At 5:4, Zverev was unable to add to the game and it was tied. Playing in euphoria, Alcaraz also dominated the remaining two games and after five and a half hours of fighting, he could rejoice at advancing to the finals.
“All along I believed I could do it. I told myself that I have to fight, I must not give up. I struggled a lot in the third set, but in the end I did it thanks to you, the fans. You gave me so much energy, I’m glad I made it,said the moved Spaniard after the match.
Australian Open men’s singles results
