Alexander Zverev dragged himself through a grueling fifth set while Carlos Alcaraz battled severe cramps in a historic Australian Open semifinal in January that lasted 5 hours and 26 minutes, RP ONLINE reported.
Alcaraz ultimately claimed victory after three tiebreaks and nearly 400 played points, leaving Zverev with a prime opportunity for a high-stakes rematch at the ATP Finals starting Sunday in Turin.
Experts predict a Zverev-Alcaraz final as the standout clash of the tournament, particularly with Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic absent from the elite field.
For Zverev, the potential showdown offers a chance to erase the sole blemish on a stellar season featuring two Grand Slam titles: his lack of a victory against either Alcaraz or Sinner in 2026.
Zverev addressed his recent record against the tour’s top tier during an interview with the Corriere della Sera, stating he hopes to face both players again soon because
according to RP ONLINE.
Before any potential title clash, the world number one must play a tricky group stage featuring US Open final opponent Ben Shelton, Frenchman Arthur Fils, and Spanish youngster Rafael Jódar.
Zverev and Alcaraz shared a practice session on Thursday afternoon in Turin to prepare for the hard-court indoor conditions.
A meeting between the two rivals could materialize as early as the semifinal stage depending on their group results.
Alcaraz arrives in Italy following a dominant stretch that included titles in Vienna and the Paris indoor Masters, where he defeated Shelton in the final.
The Spanish star initially struggled upon returning from a wrist injury, highlighted by a quarterfinal loss to Shelton at the US Open, but has since regained his championship form.
Zverev looked fatigued during an early exit at the Paris Masters, positioning Alcaraz as the tournament favorite among analysts.
Alcaraz deflected the favoritism tag ahead of his opening match, telling reporters,
as noted by RP ONLINE.
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