Alexander Zverev came agonisingly close to reaching the Australian Open final.
After going two sets down to Carlos Alcaraz in the first semifinal on Friday, Zverev clawed his way back into the contest and forced a decisive fifth set on Rod Laver Arena.
The German managed to go up a break in the fifth, but failed to get over the line against the world number one, who advanced to set up a final clash with Novak Djokovic.
Has Alexander Zverev just blown his last chance to win a Grand Slam?
During the match, Alcaraz was suffering from cramp and took a medical timeout to deal with the issue, which Zverev was furious at.
Players are not allowed to take medical timeouts due to cramping, as it is not seen as a physical injury, but rather a conditioning problem.
Zverev complained to an official about the decision to let Alcaraz pause the match, calling it ‘unbelievable’.
Reacting to the situation, Serena Williams’ former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, claimed a ‘real scandal’ was avoided in the match.
Patrick Mouratoglou discusses Carlos Alcaraz’s medical timeout
In a post on Instagram, Mouratoglou said: “Sascha [Zverev] is completely right when he says normally you can’t take a medical timeout for cramping. That’s true, but that’s the rule, not the reality.
“To say that the tour is protecting Alcaraz and Sinner because Alcaraz has a medical treatment for cramps, I don’t think it’s fair.
“If you look at all the matches, all the players who cramp, they always receive medical treatment. So the rule doesn’t have any value; it’s the opposite that happens every single time.
“So if Carlos would not receive medical treatment, I think this would be a real scandal because all the others do have medical treatments for cramps, and it’s the same story as for coaching.
Were the Australian Open too lenient with Carlos Alcaraz?
“When coaching was not allowed, okay, that’s the rule, but everybody’s coaching at every single match, and all the chair empires tolerated it.
“Unfairness is a different treatment; it’s not a rule or no rule because the rule is the paper, but what counts is the reality of what’s happening every day.”
The official rules on players taking medical timeouts in Melbourne
As per the official Australian Open website, the rules on medical timeouts are outlined.
The guidelines state: “Players can receive medical treatment during any change of ends or set break for a treatable condition, usually limited to two changeovers or breaks per issue.
“This includes things like taping, assessment or brief hands-on treatment, and it does not stop the clock.
“A medical time-out is a formal stoppage of play. It is only granted when the tournament doctor or physiotherapist determines that extra time is required and is limited to three minutes of treatment. Players are allowed one medical time-out per distinct treatable condition.
“Players cannot take a medical time-out for fatigue or muscle cramping, which may only be treated during normal breaks.
“The final decision on what qualifies – including heat-related illness – rests with the tournament medical staff, not the player.”
The heat has been brutal at times during this year’s edition of the Australian Open, with temperatures soaring over 40C.
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