In a dramatic semi-final, Carlos Alcaraz not only kept his career Grand Slam ambitions alive but also defied the odds as he battled through an injury to get the better of Alexander Zverev in a captivating five-set match.
Alcaraz’s 22-year-old Spanish rival managed to finish the match first, taking two sets to none, though a leg issue partly slowed him in the third. After 5 hours and 27 minutes of epic battle on Melbourne’s court, the one with the best shots, tactical wisdom, and determination saw his way through with a fifth set win 6-4 7-6 (5) 6-7 (3) 6-7 (4) 7-5.
Alcaraz seemed like he was about to give up halfway through the third set as the physical limitations caused by the leg problem got more and more obvious with each passing point. Still, the guy who is at the top of the world rankings managed to somehow find the keys to the game to keep going with extraordinary hitting skills and a wide range of shots, combined with willpower that almost no one can match.
After winning the opening two sets, Alcaraz had to come to terms with a changing situation in which Zverev not only brought energy but also aggression back; the change of the match into a battle only for the survivors (of fatigue) was in fact, a reversion of the initial transition. Zverev was the man who was able to take the summit after the tiebreaks as he dominated both of them and along with that he was also able to voice his dissatisfaction with the medical break of Alcaraz during the third set.
Though he was broken early on in the fifth set, Alcaraz started to evoke his physical form and the spirit that was his strength. The one who “has got to believe no matter what one is struggling with,” as Alcaraz put it was the same man who, after a break of serve in the 10th game, not only scored another one but also finished the match, winning a crowd that was more than happy with his performance.
Alcaraz is in line to face either Novak Djokovic or Jannik Sinner in the final on Sunday while a triumph would make him the youngest player to accomplish a career Grand Slam at just 22 years of age.
