Carlos Alcaraz Shows Grit and Belief to Reach First Australian Open Final After Epic Five-Set Battle

Melbourne, Jan 2026 : World number one Carlos Alcaraz produced a stunning display of resilience, belief and sheer determination to reach his first Australian Open final, defeating Germany’s Alexander Zverev in one of the toughest matches of his young career. The 22-year-old Spaniard battled through pain, fatigue and momentum swings to register a dramatic 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 6-7 (4/7), 7-5 victory in a marathon semi-final that lasted five hours and 27 minutes at Melbourne Park on Friday.

After the exhausting encounter, an emotional and visibly drained Alcaraz credited his victory to unwavering self-belief. “Believing all the time,” he said while reflecting on the contest. “No matter how tough the situation is, you have to believe in yourself. That’s what helped me get through this match.”

The clash between the top seed and the third-seeded Zverev lived up to its billing, with both players producing high-quality tennis deep into the night. Alcaraz will now face either Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s title match, as he looks to lift the only Grand Slam trophy missing from his collection.

The match took a dramatic turn midway through the third set when Alcaraz appeared to be struggling physically. At 4-4, the Spaniard began limping badly and looked close to cramping. He was allowed to receive treatment during the changeover, which sparked visible frustration from Zverev, who argued with officials as medical timeouts are not permitted for muscle cramps. Despite the controversy, Alcaraz continued playing, though his movement was clearly hampered.

Zverev capitalised on the situation and won the third-set tiebreak, handing Alcaraz his first set loss of the tournament. The German followed it up by taking the fourth set as well, again in a tiebreak, pushing the match into a decisive fifth set and raising hopes of a breakthrough Grand Slam final for himself.

However, despite not being fully fit, Alcaraz somehow found another gear. Roared on by the Melbourne crowd, he dug deep, displaying remarkable mental strength. “I was struggling in the middle of the third set,” Alcaraz admitted. “Honestly, it was one of the toughest matches I’ve played in my short career. But I’ve been in these situations before. I had to put my heart into the match. I fought until the last ball.”

Zverev started the fifth set strongly and broke early to take a 2-0 lead, putting him within touching distance of victory. Yet, as has happened so often in major tournaments, the German faltered at crucial moments. Serving for the match, he failed to close it out, allowing Alcaraz to break back at 5-5. Riding the momentum, the Spaniard broke again to seal a dramatic and emotional win before collapsing onto the court in exhaustion.

The opening stages of the match saw both players hold serve comfortably until Alcaraz created the first real opportunity at 3-3 in the opening set. Although Zverev saved the initial break point, he cracked under pressure in his next service game, double-faulting to hand Alcaraz the break and eventually the set. Zverev responded strongly in the second set, raising his level and breaking Alcaraz to go ahead 4-2. But the world number one showed his class, breaking back when Zverev served for the set and dominating the ensuing tiebreak.

As the match wore on, it became a test of endurance as much as skill. Alcaraz’s movement improved in the fourth set despite lingering discomfort, and both players refused to give an inch. Another tiebreak followed, with Zverev once again holding his nerve to level the match at two sets apiece.

For Zverev, the defeat was another heartbreaking chapter in his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title. The German was left dejected, having come agonisingly close once again, only to see his hopes dashed by Alcaraz’s relentless fighting spirit.

For Alcaraz, the victory marked a historic milestone. He became the youngest player in the Open Era to reach the men’s singles final at all four Grand Slam tournaments, surpassing the record set by Jim Courier in 1993. If he goes on to win the title, he will also become the youngest player in history to complete a career Grand Slam, overtaking his compatriot and idol Rafael Nadal, who achieved the feat at the age of 24.

Already a six-time Grand Slam champion with two French Opens, two US Opens and two Wimbledon titles, Alcaraz has previously struggled on the blue hard courts of Melbourne Park. This year, however, he has looked increasingly comfortable and confident. “I’m very happy to play my first final in Melbourne,” he said. “It’s something I’ve been working very hard for. These two weeks have been great so far, and my level is improving considerably.”

Having already endured another marathon five-set battle earlier in the tournament, Alcaraz once again showed why he is considered the standard-bearer of the new generation. His ability to combine explosive shot-making with extraordinary mental toughness continues to set him apart.

As the Australian Open heads into its final weekend, all eyes will now be on Alcaraz to see whether belief, resilience and youthful brilliance can carry him one step further — and into tennis history.