Alcaraz’s cramps today: the Spaniard wins the first two sets and starts to feel pain in his legs. The German’s protests over the medical time-out: “It’s incredible that he’s being treated for cramps, it’s an ass…”. The third set was lost and the restart in the fourth. We go to the fifth
FROM OUR REPORTER
MELBOURNE – Hot, then cold, however meteorological, fascinating Australian Open. This time, the illness from the humid heat strikes Carlos Alcaraz. Ahead by two sets (6-4, 7-6) with the German Sasha Zverev in the semi-final of today – Friday 30 January – of the first Slam of the season, two partials dominated with the charisma of the leader of the pack which the opponent suffers greatly, with a score of 4-4 in the third the world number one has a missed pass. He approaches the box manned by Samu Lopez, the coach who took over from Juan Carlos Ferrero after the divorce in December: «I don’t know what’s happening to me – he says -, I vomited. Should I take something?». The humid heat of Melbourne, after Jannik Sinner’s very violent cramps with the American Spizzirri, strikes again.
The semi-finals of the Australian Open, live
Carlitos suddenly loses all his reactivity. He becomes slow, very little mobile, stops often as if to stretch his right leg. It is not clear whether it is injureddue to dehydration, or if he has i cramps (for which it is not permitted to request the medical time out but only the intervention of the physiotherapist at the change of pitch, for a maximum of three times). He plays from a standstill: by dint of dumps, taking advantage of Zverev’s mental confusion who suspects that his opponent is doing it on purpose, he holds serve. 5-4.
At that point Alcaraz asks for a medical time out, while the German vents all his frustration against the referee: «They’re not cramps! She’s a b…! You are protecting these two boys in every way!» he shouts, also alluding to Sinner, the other predestined player saved in the third round by the closure of the centre’s roof.
The chaos on the pitch is remarkable. Enter the physiotherapist of the tournament and begins to vigorously massage Alcaraz’s right thigh, just below the point where Musetti was injured with Djokovic.
The next game, with Zverev serving, is a torment: the Spaniard is unable to run, dragging his leg. At 6-5 the physio comes back, another massage. We proceed like this, until 6-6, with Carlitos trying to buy time in the hope of regaining full efficiency. The tie break is easy prey for Zverev (7-3). The psychodrama goes to the fourth set.
Now Carlitos seems refreshed. The power station is no longer flooded by the sun, the air temperature decreases, the situation normalizes. “Stay positive,” Lopez advises him.
Alcaraz, who is no longer the electric champion of the first two sets but not even the self-propelled player of the third, starts grinding tennis again. His delicate balance is altered, the first serve evaporates: it is the forehand hook that keeps him hooked to the match. Zverev has also calmed down, he no longer complains.
Carlitos finds his long lost smile again and asks for the support of the public, who dotes on him. He gets it. At 5-4 Zverev, the Spaniard asks his team for permission to eat: a few bites of a protein bar. That he has an appetite is a good sign. But it remains a Alcaraz off, depowered. But I live. It is hoisted 5-5, supported by the entire stadium. At the change of ends at 6-5, Zverev prepares himself for an insulin shot and takes the opportunity to tell the umpire that he feels cheated. And here we are at the third tie break of the semi-final, which begins when the four hours of play strike.
The Spaniard recovers the initial mini-break with a nice backhand cross-court return (2-2), tries to escape with a winning serve (4-3) but fails. Zverev gets the set point thanks to a lifeless backhand shot into the net by his rival (6-4). He closes with a great forehand. 7-6. It’s not over, not yet. Fifth set.
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