MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Alexander Zverev made no mistake with his second chance to close out a win over No. 2-ranked Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday night and moved into an Australian Open semifinal against two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev.
The sixth-seeded Zverev missed a chance to serve it out from 5-3 in the third set but he didn’t blink when he got another chance in the fourth after Alcaraz rallied, finishing off a 6-1, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-4 victory.
Alcaraz won Wimbledon last year and was the only player to beat 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam match in 2023. The 20-year-old Spaniard won’t get the chance in Australia this time.
Zverev’s reward was a spot in a major semifinal for the seventh time.
“Look, I’m playing one of the best players in the world, especially over the last two years,” Zverev said. “Then when you start winning, obviously your brain starts going. It’s not always helpful but I’m happy I got it at the end.”
No. 12-seeded Zheng Qinwen and Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska won women’s quarterfinals on Day 11 and will each play their first Grand Slam semi when they meet after a night sleep.
Zverev, speaking in a news conference at 3 a.m. local time, considered Wednesday’s result his most important since returning from an ankle injury layoff that ruled him out of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2022.
“I was on top of my game before the injury happened,” he said. “I’m extremely happy to be back where I am and winning these kind of matches, giving myself the chance again. Because last year … I wasn’t a Slam contender.” Alcaraz missed the 2023 Australian Open with injury and was into the quarterfinals here for the first time, completing a Grand Slam set.
He had dropped only one set and spent five fewer hours on court than Zverev in the four previous rounds.
“I’m sad with my level today, because I have been playing good tennis,” Alcaraz said. “Obviously quarterfinal of a Grand Slam is a good run. It’s not what I’m looking for, but is not bad.”
Medvedev, a two-time finalist in Australia, outlasted ninth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to make it to the semifinals here for the third time in four years. Djokovic will play Jannik Sinner in the other semifinal.
The sixth-seeded Zverev was on top of Alcaraz early, winning all but two points on serve as he raced through the first set in 29 minutes. Two service breaks in the second gave him a surprisingly comfortable lead.
Just after midnight, Zverev was serving for a straight sets win when Alcaraz broke for the first time. Alcaraz got back to 5-5 when he chased a shot into the doubles alley and knocked a backhand down the line, beaming a big smile and shaking his racket in a gesture that suggested: “Hello, still here.”
He won the last seven points of the tiebreaker to make it 2-1.
But after an exchange of service breaks to open the fourth and some energy-sapping rallies that had both players sprinting side-to-side to make incredible shots, Zverev got another chance to close out after breaking in the ninth game.
He clinched it about 1:20 a.m. local time, letting out a scream of relief and shaking both arms in celebration.
