Australian Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz beats Alexander Zverev in epic to reach final

A cramping Carlos Alcaraz had to draw on every physical and mental reserve to come back from the brink and beat Alexander Zverev to reach a first Australian Open final.

Spain’s Alcaraz came through 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 after an enthralling five hours and 27 minutes – but the scoreline barely hints at the drama that occurred in Melbourne.

Alcaraz had clinched the first two sets and was cruising when, serving at 4-4 in the third, he suddenly pulled up and struggled to serve or move.

The world number one took a medical timeout – leaving third seed Zverev irate – and looked a shadow of his former self as his German opponent forced a decider.

Zverev went an early break up in the fifth set and served for the match at 5-4, before Alcaraz produced a scarcely believable comeback.

Buoyed by the crowd, Alcaraz broke to get the match back on serve and then capitalised on Zverev’s nerves as the German served at 6-5 down to try to force a 10-point tie-break.

Alcaraz fell to the floor in complete disbelief as Zverev missed a backhand and sent him into Sunday’s showpiece.

“I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what,” Alcaraz said.

“I couldn’t be here right now without these guys [the crowd]. The way you pushed me back into the match on every point is crazy.”

Victory keeps alive the 22-year-old’s bid to write more tennis history – should he win on Sunday, he will become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.

Only Novak Djokovic – and Alcaraz’s own physical condition – now stand in the way of a fourth successive Grand Slam final between the Spaniard and Jannik Sinner.

Serb Djokovic, bidding for a record 25th major singles title, faces world number two Sinner later on Friday.