Alexander Zverev loses the epic Australian Open semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz – and yet wins: respect, new fans and my view of him.
I agreed with my colleague back then – and still stood up for Zverev tonight. Out of professional interest, but also because deep within me was the hope of experiencing tennis history live and seeing Zverev’s rise to the felt ball Olympus.
Zverev plays the “best tennis” of his career at the Australian Open
In Melbourne, Zverev played “his best tennis” of his career, as Becker also attested to him. The number three in the world against the number one, the (supposedly) indomitable Carlos Alcaraz. This Australian Open semi-final match could only be gigantic. It got even better.
After two sentences my eyes kept closing. Zverev started well, but still had no chance against the phenomenal Alcaraz. A two-set deficit against the best tennis player in the world (alongside Jannik Sinner), who had not yet dropped a single set at this Grand Slam? That’s it. I dozed off.
Then this: The increasingly loud voices of Eurosport commentator Matthias Stach and expert Barbara Ritter startled me. When Zverev won the third set in the tiebreak, I was wide awake again.
Zverev’s fantastic comeback against Alcaraz
And like all the viewers who dragged themselves out of bed at 4:30 a.m., I was rewarded. It was a dramatic, spectacular match with more intriguing twists than a Christopher Nolan thriller.
Zverev bit back, fighting not only against the bundle of energy Alcaraz and his own mental doubts, but also against the simmering heat of the sun from above.
It was becoming more and more of an epic battle on the blue court. Two relentless warriors fighting for the endgame. After long rallies, both athletes often leaned on their knees, exhausted, breathing hard, pumping like hell.
Zverev against Alcaraz, an epic battle for the final
When Zverev actually managed to equalize the set shortly before 9 a.m. German time after another tiebreak, commentator Stach said a sentence that stuck: “No matter what you think of him: That’s really big.”
Yes, Zverev is a controversial character who has had his scandals and misfires. But as an athlete he is really great. This match against Alcaraz is the best proof of that.
This five-set thriller will go down in the history of the Australian Open as “one of the most dramatic matches of all time,” said Stach at the end. Admiration in his voice, but also resignation.
Zverev loses, but wins something very important
After 5:27 hours, Alcaraz (Stach: “The Duracell bunny from Murcia”) converted his first match point, Zverev left the field as a loser. A marathon. A sad exit.
Zverev remains without great success, without a Grand Slam triumph. The unfinished one. But this match changed my view of him forever. I bow to Zverev.
At the next major tournaments I won’t need an alarm clock at night, the times are acceptable in Europe. But when Zverev tries his next serve at the Australian Open in a year’s time, I’ll be sitting in front of the TV. And so will many fans who won that night, perhaps my colleague Pit too.
