At 4:30 in the morning Spanish time the first semi-final of the Australian Open in the history of Carlos Alcaraz began. The man from Murcia faced the German Alexander Zverev, who has been recovering his form and who already knows what it means to win at … Spanish on the Melbourne track.
However, the duel began with fortune for ‘Carlitos’, who overcame the pressure and scored 6-4, not without a fight, in the first set. From the second set onwards, complications began to appear and the German’s strength managed to overcome the tie-break that ended fortunately for Alcaraz. 2-0.
It was in the third when the film changed and Alcaraz’s physical problems were added to Zverev’s intensity, who even had to ask for a bathroom break where, in his words, he vomited. And yet, not without difficulty but with extraordinary tenacity, Carlitos was on two occasions close to taking the match in two tie-breaks in the third and fourth that fell on Zverev’s side to leave everything to be decided in the fifth and final set.
09:50
4-3 (40-V) Break ball for Alcaraz
The Spaniard arrived at Zverev’s drop shot, who could not react as he was very close to the net!
09:49
4-3 (40-40) There is life for Carlos!
Zverev throws out because he did not connect well with the ball
09:48
4-3 (40-30) Zverev turns the situation around
Turn the game around Zverev.
09:48
4-3 (30-30)
The ball goes to Alcaraz. 30-30
09:47
¡Uuuuyy!
Alcaraz is subtracting very well, but now it was impossible against Zverev’s powerful serve. Carlos was left in a very forced position… 15-30
09:46
Another ball out of Zverev!
The Spanish gets 00-30… Let’s go!
09:46
Start well Carlitos! What a rest!
Good rest from Alcaraz, who sees how his rival sends the ball beyond the baseline. 00-15
09:44
Brilliant Alcaraz, who ties his service (4-3)
Zverev goes deep. Game for Alcaraz, who will face another serve from his rival with the aim of breaking. Will this be the charm?
09:43
Zverev resisted
Great rest on the corner. 40-15
09:42
40-00 for Carlos
He moved his rival very well to leave him pinned.
09:42
Great drop by Carlitos
Incredible drop shot from the Spaniard that Zverev manages to reach, but very forcedly, he is unable to return it. 30-00 for the Spanish.
09:41
15-00 for Alcaraz
The exchange goes to Zverev with a cross that goes to the hallway.
09:40
Game for Zverev (4-2)
The German saves his serve again despite Alcaraz’s push… We are entering dangerous terrain, but at least Alcaraz looks much more comfortable on the hard Melbourne court.
09:39
Trade for Zverev
Now they both bet on the rally from the back of the court… and Zverev takes it with a heeled cannon shot. Advantage for the German.
09:37
For the …
Carlos loses the point after his ball hits the net before going out… 40 even.
09:37
Another point!
Great rest from Alcaraz that makes it 30-40… Another break ball!
09:36
ALCARAZ PUNCT!
The Spaniard raises the public by reaching an incredible drop shot by Zverev! How did you do it after almost 5 hours of playing? The audience goes crazy and Carlitos puts his hand to his ear!
09:35
Now yes!
Tremendous right hand from Alcaraz in the exchange! He left Zverev dry and goes 15-30
09:35
Spanish online…
Carlos couldn’t return that ball to the other side of the court. What an exchange of cannon shots!
09:34
What a serve!
Phew! With those cannon shots it’s going to be very difficult for Carlos…! 15-00
09:33
Zverev’s turn to serve…
Let’s see if Alcaraz can break the German’s serve… He drinks some water before heading to the baseline…
09:32
Game for Alcaraz! (3-2)
Great stopover from Alcaraz! Point for the Spaniard, who celebrates with his fist to the delirium of the Australian public!
09:31
Great parallel from Carlos!
Huge right hand from the Spaniard that gives Zverev no option! Come on, the point is there!…
09:30
Another unforced error
Alcaraz’s right goes to the doubles aisle. Even again. What a battle!
09:29
On the line!
Phew! How tight that shot from Alcaraz! He moved Zverev with his serve from one side to the other and adjusted the Spaniard a lot. Advantage for him.
09:28
Bad volley from Alcaraz
The Spaniard goes up to the net but his volley goes wide. Now the number one in the world was wrong. 40-40
09:28
Sign Carlitos’ serve
The Spaniard is one point away from tying up the game. He did it with a powerful serve and moving his rival at the back of the court.
09:27
The network gives Alcaraz a break
Zverev’s shot hits the net. 30-30
09:26
Tremendous right hand from the German!
What a cross shot from Zverev! Alcaraz, who made the statue on the track, has not been able to do anything. Advantage for the German 15-30. Eye!
09:25
Good rest from Zverev
The German responded well to Carlos’ serve and tied the score: 15-15
09:25
Alcaraz at service
Alcaraz scores the first point on serve. It is vital that you tie up your service.
09:24
To the Alcaraz net and game for Zverev! (3-1)
It’s over, the fourth game of the fifth set is finally scored by the German! Carlitos had two opportunities to return the tie to this round but he could not take advantage of them against a very confident Zverev on serve.
09:23
Zverev cannon shot
The German’s first serve at 215 kilometers per hour that Alcaraz cannot return.
09:22
Zverev saves her with the serve
The rest of the Spaniard’s right hits the net. Another possibility of a breakup that disappears… what a shame!
09:22
New break ball for Alcaraz…
Left by Alcaraz, he reaches the German’s response and in the next rally Zverev throws it into the net. Another breaking point for the Spanish!
09:21
A la red Zverev
The German sends the ball into the net after a good return from Alcaraz. Equality returns to the game
09:20
The German recovers the initiative
It goes to Alcaraz and Zverev can take the point… The Spaniard laments.
09:19
The rest escape!
Again a good second serve from Zverev and Alcaraz remains beyond the baseline… Tied again… Let’s go Carlos!
09:18
Alcaraz advantage!
Break ball for the Spanish! How Carlitos has recovered, what a point of rebellion and what a way to attack the ball. Zverev now surpassed. We’ll see if the Spanish closes the point…
09:17
Good Alcaraz!
How the Spaniard is hitting the ball now! He responds with three shots in a row to force the ball into the German’s net. 40-40!
09:16
Spanish is coming
Very good now Carlitos! He moved his rival well and pushed him until he threw the ball beyond the baseline. 40-30
09:15
Good crusade from Carlos
Great cross blow from Carlitos Alcaraz to show that he is not giving up. 40-15
09:15
based on seconds
The German doesn’t get the first serves, but he is nevertheless being very effective with the seconds. 40-00
09:14
Zverev no cede
It will not be an easy task to break Zverev’s serve, who leads 30-00 after two very good serves. In the second, Alcaraz was able to resist somewhat, but ended up crashing the ball into the net.
09:11
First game for Alcaraz! (1-2)
There it is, again with his serve the Spaniard closes the point. We’ll see if he’s now able to break his opponent’s serve to restore equality in the fifth set…
09:10
One step away from the first game in this set
The rest goes to Zverev and Alcaraz leads 40-15. He is one step away from scoring his first point in the set.
09:10
Zverev’s backhand dropshot
Great shot from the German, with an unreachable blow for Carlitos. The German remains in the game
09:09
Tremendous serves from the Murcian
Alcaraz reacts with character with two very good serves. It gets 30-00
09:08
The classification, uphill
Getting to the final in Alcaraz is difficult, but being number one in the world anything is possible. We will see if he maintains his serve and can break his rival on occasion.
09:07
Second game for Zverev (2-0)
The German closes the game after a good exchange on the net. Alcaraz is tense, heavy in his game, out…
09:06
Brutal Zverev
Zverev recovers with a spectacular backhand parallel to the line. German is sweet and Spanish is completely surpassed.
09:06
little respite
Now a long ball goes to the German and Alcaraz gets into the game a little.
09:04
Very uncomfortable Alcaraz
The Spaniard is not comfortable on the court and his rival easily controls the second game. 30-00
09:03
The first game escapes
Double fault from Murcia, who sees the first game slip away and Zverev takes the advantage. Very delicate moment for their aspirations of reaching the final.
09:02
Alcaraz tries to tie up his service
The ball goes to the Spaniard and he has the first ball from ‘brek’ Zverev
09:01
The fifth and final set starts tied
Like the three previous sets, decided in the tiebreaker, the first game of the fifth set also begins balanced. We arrive at the ‘Deuce’
