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Alexander Zverev battled through the pain barrier to stun Carlos Alcaraz in the early hours of Thursday and book an Australian Open semi-final against Daniil Medvedev, weathering a big fightback from the world number two. The German sixth seed eventually prevailed 6-1, 6-3, 6-7 (2\/7), 6-4 for a phenomenal win on Rod Laver Arena to make the last four at a Grand Slam for a seventh time. Zverev, still searching for a breakthrough major title, will meet Medvedev next after the Russian third seed battled past Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in five gruelling sets.<\/p>\n
“He’s been kicking my arse a lot the last year or so. But maybe this’ll be it, this’ll be the place,” Zverev said of Medvedev.<\/p>\n
He had to dig deep to get past Alcaraz, who was 2-5 down in the third set and seemingly out for the count.<\/p>\n
“I’m playing one of the best players in the world, especially over the last two years… he’s won two Grand Slams,” said the German.<\/p>\n
“When you’re up 6-1, 6-3, 5-2, you start thinking. We’re all human. It’s a great honour to play against guys like this and when you’re so close to winning your brain starts going and it’s not always helpful.<\/p>\n
“But I’m happy that I fought back quite well in the fourth set and didn’t let go.”<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old last made the semis in Melbourne in 2020 and has only once been to a Grand Slam final, when he lost the 2020 US Open decider to Dominic Thiem despite holding a 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n
He managed to down Alcaraz despite toenail pain that needed treatment during the match.<\/p>\n
“I have a lot of blood under my toenails, that’s quite painful,” he said.<\/p>\n
“But you know what, I would much rather feel the way I’m feeling right now with a bit of pain here and there and be in the semi-finals than be at home.<\/p>\n
“I’m fine, and I’m happy to be here and ready to get going.”<\/p>\n
– Flicked a switch –<\/p>\n
Before meeting Zverev, Alcaraz had only dropped one set and a single service game and had spent five hours less on court than the German.<\/p>\n
But he did not know what had hit him in the opening set, with an ultra-aggressive Zverev ripping through it in 29 minutes, getting 16 of 18 first serves in play and winning 14 of those points.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard refocused and was more authoritative in the second set, hitting his groundstrokes and getting to the net.<\/p>\n
But Zverev saved two break points in the sixth game then swooped in the next, coming to the net for a winner to move 4-3 ahead and breaking again to take the set.<\/p>\n
A shellshocked Alcaraz struggled to find a way back, with a double fault gifting the German a third break point, which he converted to pull 3-1 clear in the third set.<\/p>\n
Zverev moved 5-2 ahead and it looked all over when he served for the match at 5-3, but the Spaniard flicked a switch and produced some sensational tennis to break for the first time.<\/p>\n
It went to a tiebreak and with the crowd roaring him on Alcaraz took it to a fourth set.<\/p>\n
Zverev appeared exhausted, but he found another wind and forced errors from Alcaraz for a crucial break and a 5-4 lead in the fourth and this time made no mistake serving for the match.<\/p>\n
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)<\/i><\/p>\n
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