Alexander Zverev still has to wait for his first title at a Grand Slam tournament. He lost the dramatic Australian Open semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz in five sets after several reversals.
After more than five hours, Alexander Zverev lost to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets 4:6, 6:7, 7:6, 7:6 and 5:7.
Carlos Alcaraz with cramps
The world number three from Germany was clearly behind. He lost the first two sets 4:6 and 6:7. In the third set it looked as if the match on Friday (January 30, 2026) would clearly go to his opponent. But Alcaraz suddenly felt something in his right thigh, got cramps and, to Zverev’s annoyance, took a break from treatment.
The high-class, but not spectacular, game for a long time seemed to take a turn. But Zverev only won the third and fourth sets in the tiebreak.
The fifth movement was hard to beat in terms of drama. Zverev fended off a number of break points only to have to congratulate his opponent on their victory after five hours and 27 minutes of play.
| Zverev | Alcaraz | |
|---|---|---|
17 | Aces | 12 |
4 | Double fault | 5 |
72% | 1. Serve in the field | 65% |
71% | scored with 1st serve | 74% |
53% | scored with 2nd serve | 62% |
56 | winning strokes | 78 |
55 | unforced errors | 58 |
7/2 | Break balls/used | 14/4 |
194 | points won | 200 |
| Source: Australian Open |
Alcaraz, who will face Novak Djokovic or defending champion Jannik Sinner in the final on Sunday, won the fifth set 7-5.
“I just always believed in it,” said Alcaraz immediately after the epic game. “It was incredibly physically demanding.”
Longing for the first title at a Grand Slam
It has now been 30 years since a German tennis player won a Grand Slam tournament. It was Boris Becker who won his sixth and final title at the major tournaments in Australia.
Zverev’s desire to become the successor is as great as his talent. For the 40th time in his career he has been in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament.
This time the hope was high again. He had adjusted his game a little, he said that he was really healthy again after a long time.
Zverev briefly loses his footing
In the first set, both professionals delivered their serves confidently for a long time. A first breakball from Alcaraz when the score was 3:3 also caused little excitement for the German.
Early in the game, Zverev was not happy with the stringing on his racket.
When the Spaniard had break chances again at 4:4, Zverev lost his stride. He struggled with the stringing of his racket and complained about it several times to his box. The first sentence was quickly gone. Alcaraz clenched his fist again.
Second set goes to Alcaraz in the tiebreak
Zverev, who lost the final last year to Jannik Sinner, caught himself in the second set. It helped him enormously that he served his serve to make it 1-0 despite some difficulties. When he had the first break points of the match at 3:2 and 40:0, he took advantage of the third.
The 4:2 became 5:2 after a confident service game. But then the world number one showed his class. With maximum concentration, he hardly made any mistakes. So he managed the rebreak to 4:5.
At times close to despair: Alexander Zverev
It went to the tiebreak, in which both players won the points on their own serves up to 5:5 – until Zverev hit a relatively easy backhand volley out of bounds. Alcaraz led 6:5 and took the second set with the next point.
Summer of all conditions speaks against Zverev
The outside temperature in Melbourne was around 30 degrees Celsius. The roof of the Rod Laver Arena was open. Alcaraz had been on the court significantly less in the past two weeks.
It was hard to imagine that Zverev could come back against such an outstanding tennis player given the 0-2 set deficit.
The third in the world rankings quickly scored points due to the total number of conditions. Sometimes he won them. Two great shots gave him a 30:15 lead with Alcaraz serving at 3:3. A bit of hope arose for Zverez. But Alcaraz nipped them in the bud, including with an ace.
The first turning point: Alcaraz suddenly has physical problems
But then the game took a turn that was unforeseeable. Alcaraz felt something in his right thigh. Although he was visibly injured, he served to make it 5:4 and requested a “medical timeout”, i.e. a three-minute break for treatment.
“That doesn’t exist,” Zverev complained to the head referee. He was convinced that his opponent was simply suffering from cramps that did not warrant a medical time-out. “These are cramps. What else could it be?” said Zverev.
Always massages with Carlos Alcaraz
In any case, the treatment did not bring any visible improvement. Alcaraz played almost from a standing start, but still led 6:5 and 30:0. But Zverev held his nerve and won the tiebreak 7:3. It was the world number one’s first set loss at the Australian Open 2026.
The next turning point: cramps gradually disappear again
Alcaraz continued to have his thighs massaged every time he changed sides, including his left one. That alone suggested that it must have at least been cramps.
Another indication: Alcaraz moved better again quite early in the fourth set. The smile after successful actions returned to the face. Antispasmodic drinks seemed to have worked for the Spaniard.
Victory after an epic match: Carlos Alcaraz
However, he also lost the second tiebreak of the day, albeit narrowly.
The final turning point: Alcaraz wins after being 3:5 behind
The fifth set began with a break for Zverev. But there were also several break opportunities for Alcaraz, so that the tension reached its climax. Zverev repeatedly delivered great blows and kept Alcaraz at bay for a long time, with no physical impairment being felt.
Hug after five and a half hours
With a 5:4 lead, it happened: Alcaraz took the serve from Zverev and also won the following two games. He sank to the ground, overwhelmed.
The two opponents hugged each other after what was ultimately an extremely spectacular match. With Alcaraz there was no longer any sign of cramps, with Zverev there was no longer any sign of annoyance with his opponent.
