By Ashiadey Dotse
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz has reached his first Australian Open final after a dramatic five-set victory over Germany’s Alexander Zverev in Melbourne.
The 22-year-old tennis star battled through cramps and physical pain to win the men’s singles semi-final in a match that lasted five hours and 27 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
Alcaraz won 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5 in what has been described as the longest match of the tournament.
Alcaraz was in clear discomfort midway through the third set, struggling with his right thigh and barely able to move at times. Despite this, he showed great determination, using accurate shots and strong mental focus to stay in the match.
The Spanish player was just two points away from victory in the fourth set but Zverev fought back to force a deciding fifth set. In the final set, both players showed signs of exhaustion, but Alcaraz raised his game at the crucial moments, breaking Zverev’s serve twice to seal the win.
Speaking after the match, Alcaraz said belief was the key to his comeback. He said the match was one of the most physically demanding of his career but he was proud of how he fought until the last point.
The match was played in hot conditions, with temperatures close to 30 degrees Celsius. Alcaraz took a medical timeout during the match, which caused some controversy, as Zverev questioned whether treatment should be allowed for cramp under the rules.
Despite the debate, Alcaraz stayed focused and used the support of the crowd to push through the pain and pressure.
With the win, Alcaraz advances to Sunday’s final where he will face either Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, who is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, or Italy’s Jannik Sinner, the two-time defending champion.
Alcaraz said he is happy to finally reach a final in Melbourne, describing it as a long-time dream.
The Australian Open men’s final will be played on Sunday at Rod Laver Arena.
