Carlos Alcaraz is through to his first-ever Australian Open final.
But only just…
Leading by two sets to love, Alcaraz began to cramp, which allowed Alexander Zverev to fight back on Rod Laver Arena.
He trailed by a break in the fifth and deciding set, but refused to be beaten, as Alcaraz defeated Zverev, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5.
Were the Australian Open too lenient with Carlos Alcaraz?
The win was one of the best of his career, but that’s not to say he played a perfect match.
Ahead of the fifth set, Alcaraz made a strange decision that left one tennis legend perplexed.
Jim Courier ‘shocked’ by Carlos Alcaraz’s decision not to take a bathroom break vs Alexander Zverev
Having struggled as much as he did at the end of the third set, many expected Alcaraz to head off court and take a bathroom break before the decider on Rod Laver Arena.
Deciding not to, Alcaraz shocked former world number one Jim Courier, who was commentating for Channel 9.
“I am shocked, and I mean shocked, that [Carlos] Alcaraz did not go off court, change clothes, have a bathroom break,” said Courier.
“That’s five minutes that he could have used.”
2005 Australian Open finalist Lleyton Hewitt agreed with Courier.
“Absolutely, we thought for sure after he had treatment at the end of the third set, that 100% he’d try to do that,” said Hewitt.
An extra five minutes could have been huge for Alcaraz, who continued to struggle in the fifth set.
Still less than 100%, Alcaraz fell a break behind in the decider, as the German closed in on a second consecutive Australian Open final appearance.
As the match wore on, both players appeared fatigued, but it was Alcaraz who pushed through, producing some of his best tennis when it mattered most.
He’ll now prepare to take on either Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final on Sunday, February 1.
Is Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev the sport’s most underrated rivalry?
It’s fair to say the latest installment of the Alcaraz/Zverev rivalry was the best yet.
The pair fought tooth and nail for over five hours in a Grand Slam semifinal.
Winning the match, Alcaraz took a 7-6 lead in their head-to-head.
Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev’s head-to-head record
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2026 Australian Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Alexander Zverev | 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5 |
| 2025 Cincinnati Open – SF | Carlos Alcaraz | Alexander Zverev | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2024 ATP Finals – RR | Alexander Zverev | Carlos Alcaraz | 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2024 French Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Alexander Zverev | 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2024 Indian Wells – QF | Carlos Alcaraz | Alexander Zverev | 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2024 Australian Open – QF | Alexander Zverev | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-1, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 |
| 2023 ATP Finals – RR | Alexander Zverev | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2023 US Open – QF | Carlos Alcaraz | Alexander Zverev | 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2023 Madrid Open – 4R | Carlos Alcaraz | Alexander Zverev | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2022 French Open – QF | Alexander Zverev | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 |
| 2022 Madrid Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Alexander Zverev | 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2021 Vienna Open – SF | Alexander Zverev | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 2021 Mexican Open – 1R | Alexander Zverev | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-3, 6-1 |
For all the talk about Alcaraz’s rivalry with Sinner, his battles with Zverev perhaps don’t get the recognition they deserve.
Just one win separates them in their head-to-head, and that was today’s classic down under.
Zverev is one of a select few players who genuinely pose a threat to Alcaraz.
Whether he can get back on level terms with Alcaraz in their head-to-head remains to be seen.
Alexander Zverev’s wait for a Grand Slam goes on
Zverev impressed down under, but he remains slam-less.
Another chance has gone begging, and you do start to wonder if he has it in him to get over the line.
Has Alexander Zverev just blown his last chance to win a Grand Slam?
Three times a major runner-up and now seven times a losing semifinalist, Zverev continues to falter at the latter stages of Grand Slams.
| Grand Slam | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2020 US Open | Dominic Thiem | Alexander Zverev | 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-7 |
| 2024 French Open | Carlos Alcaraz | Alexander Zverev | 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, 1-6, 2-6 |
| 2025 Australian Open | Jannik Sinner | Alexander Zverev | 3-6, 6-7, 3-6 |
At 28, there’s still plenty of time for Zverev to win his first Grand Slam, but as Alcaraz and Sinner continue to improve, he won’t want to wait too long.
Zverev will have another shot at Grand Slam glory when the 2026 French Open begins on Sunday, May 24.
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