Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev produced a remarkable semifinal at the 2026 Australian Open.
In five hours and 27 minutes, the longest final-four showdown ever at Melbourne Park, Alcaraz defeated Zverev 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5 to book his place in the final.
After the Spaniard battled with cramp in the third set, the world number three almost completed the comeback by forcing a fifth set and earning a break of serve in the decider.
Has Alexander Zverev just blown his last chance to win a Grand Slam?
A defiant Alcaraz survived, however, and battled past the German to advance to the Australian Open title bout for the first time in his career.
With his triumph, the world number one has just broken an all-time record previously held by his great rival, Jannik Sinner.
Carlos Alcaraz achieves incredible feat with Australian Open win
At 22 years and 258 days old, Alcaraz is now the youngest player in the Open Era to reach four consecutive men’s singles Grand Slam finals, according to Opta Ace.
He surpassed Sinner, who achieved the feat aged 23 years and 318 days at Wimbledon last season.
Alcaraz’s streak of major finals began at Roland Garros last year, where he defeated the Italian to claim his fifth Grand Slam trophy.
He went on to finish as the runner-up at Wimbledon and clinched major number six at the US Open.
Now, he will have the chance to become the youngest player in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam.
Carlos Alcaraz would be the greatest youngster ever if he won the 2026 Australian Open – change my mind…
Where Carlos Alcaraz’s major tally will rank if he wins the final
Should Alcaraz win the Australian Open final, he will match the Grand Slam tallies of a number of tennis legends.
Eight players in history have won exactly seven major titles, five of whom did so solely in the Amateur Era.
Richard Sears, William Renshaw, William Larned, Rene Lacoste and Henri Cochet all won seven Grand Slam trophies before 1968.
John Newcombe clinched two of his seven crowns in the Amateur Era, and five of them in the Open Era.
John McEnroe and Mats Wilander, with seven each, both won all of their Grand Slams after 1968.
Alcaraz will have a chance to match all eight of those players before turning 23 years old.
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