MELBOURNE: Carlos Alcaraz managed to keep his career Grand Slam bid alive when he fought through cramp in his leg to deliver an epic 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 victory over Alexander Zverev and reach his first Australian Open final on Friday.
The 22-year-old looked concerned and was unable to move freely at 4-4 in the third set, but relied on his ball-striking and placement to land winners and prolong a contest that seemed in danger of ending prematurely.
No stranger to marathon battles after his 2025 French Open final win over Sinner, Alcaraz said belief was the key to making it through the longest Australian Open semi-final at five hours and 27 minutes.
“I always say you have to believe in yourself no matter what,” Alcaraz said.
“I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically it was one of the most demanding matches I’ve played in my short career. But I’ve been in this situation before.”
Six-times Grand Slam winner Alcaraz wrapped up the opening two sets on a sunny Rod Laver Arena and looked on course in the next before experiencing cramp.
Switching between big hitting and drop shots, Alcaraz went up 5-4 before taking a medical timeout, leaving a fuming Zverev to remonstrate with the supervisor that his opponent should not be allowed treatment for cramp under the rules.
Alcaraz soldiered on by sipping on pickle juice, but Zverev showed no mercy and mounted a comeback to force a deciding set.
Zverev broke for an early lead in the fifth set but Alcaraz looked like his usual self again when he chased down a drop shot and pulled off a winner at full stretch.
The first five-setter on centre court this year only looked like having one winner when Alcaraz broke in the 10th game, and he dropped to his back in disbelief after wrapping up victory.
Later, Novak Djokovic channelled his halcyon days in a fiveset classic to dethrone Jannik Sinner and become the oldest man to reach the Australian Open final in the professional era at a rocking Rod Laver Arena.
Four months before his 39th birthday, Djokovic showed he remains unbeatable on his day as he sent the double defending champion packing with a 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win completed in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“It feels surreal to be honest playing over four hours,” Djokovic said on court. Eighteen years after his first Melbourne crown, Djokovic will strive for a record-extending 11th against Alcaraz and the unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title that has eluded him.
Djokovic needed incredible fortune to reach the semi-finals, with his quarter-final opponent Lorenzo Musetti retiring injured after taking the first two sets.
The Serb enjoyed a walkover in the fourth round as well, when Jakub Mensik pulled out.
But it was hard work and mental toughness that got Djokovic over the line against Sinner, a player who had beaten him in their previous five matches. Victory came grudgingly.
He had to save a slew of break points in the decisive set before finally getting a look at Sinner’s serve at 3-3.