Alexander Zverev defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarter-final
Australian Open semi-finalist! Alexander took down world no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 in three hours and six minutes, surviving the third set’s setback and sealing the deal in the fourth for his second Australian Open semi-final.
Zverev served at 89% in the opener, producing clinic behind the initial shot and keeping the pressure on the other side. Alcaraz landed in 55% of the first serve, turning his games into a struggle. World no. 2 lost serve two times, giving his rival an initial boost of confidence.
Alexander attacked with his forehand in the encounter’s second game, earning a break at love after a forced error and forging an early advantage. The German welcomed the Spaniard’s backhand error in the third game, confirming the break and moving 3-0 in front in no time.
Carlos grabbed the fourth game after deuce, reducing the deficit before Alexander produced another fine hold that pushed him 4-1 in front.
Alcaraz experienced another blow in the sixth game, wasting game points and losing serve for the second time after netting a routine forehand.
World no. 2 played a loose drop shot in the seventh game, and Zverev held at love with a powerful serve, wrapping up the opener 6-1 in 29 minutes. Alexander landed in 19 out of 21 first serves in the second set, surviving one challenging game and breaking Carlos two times in a row for a massive two sets to love advantage.
The servers produced five comfortable holds, with Alcaraz leading 3-2, looking better than in the opener. World no. 2 had a chance to move in front after creating two break chances in game six. Alexander denied them in two exchanges and held with a powerful serve for 3-3 and a boost.
Alexander Zverev will face Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open semi-final.
The Spaniard squandered two game points in game seven and lost serve to find himself 4-3 behind. Zverev held at love in game eight to cement the lead and grabbed another break at 5-3 after Alcaraz’s loose slice attack, moving 6-1, 6-3 up after an hour and 11 minutes.
They served well at the beginning of the third set before Carlos experienced issues at 1-2. The Spaniard played a terrible backhand on the third break point, falling 3-1 behind and closer to the exit door. Zverev locked the fifth game after deuce, opening a 4-1 gap and marching toward the top, needing two more games to sail into the last four.
Carlos reduced the deficit with a hold at love in game six before Alexander painted a backhand down the line winner in the next one for a 5-2 advantage, keeping the pressure on the other side. The Spaniard served to stay in the match in game eight and painted a backhand winner to bring the game home and prolong the battle.
Zverev served for the win at 5-3, hoping for another comfortable hold. Instead, he faced a break point after losing a point at the net.
Alcaraz attacked and landed a volley winner at the net, delivering his first break and extending the battle at the last moment! Carlos grabbed the tenth game with a backhand down the line winner at the net, completing an impressive comeback and gathering a boost.
Zverev left a setback behind and held at 15 in game 11 with a service winner. Alcaraz followed that pace and held at 15 at 5-6 with a service winner, introducing a tie break. Carlos clinched an early mini-break before Alexander climbed back to 2-2.
The Spaniard fired a forehand crosscourt winner for 3-2 and caused Alexander’s fall in the next one before landing a volley winner, moving 4-2 in front. The Spaniard cracked a forehand down the line winner for 6-2, earning four set points.
Carlos forced Alexander’s error on the first, winning the breaker 7-2 and prolonging his chances followed by a massive roar. Zverev reached a drop shot at the net at the beginning of the fourth set and outplayed his rival for two break chances.
The Spaniard sprayed a forehand mistake on the second, falling 1-0 behind and experiencing an early setback. The young gun stayed calm and attacked with his backhand in the second game for two break points. The German netted a volley on the second, losing the advantage and bringing the Spaniard back to 1-1.
Carlos held at 15 in the third game, moving 2-1 in front. Alexander followed that pace and produced a fine hold in game four to level the score at 2-2. World no. 2 closed the fifth game after his rival’s loose forehand, embracing another advantage.
Zverev responded with a service winner in the sixth game, remaining on the positive side. Carlos kicked off the seventh game with three winners and closed it with a powerful serve for a 4-3 lead, looking good ahead of the closing stages.
Alexander wasted three game points in the eighth game before winning a spectacular exchange. Carlos brought them back to deuce with a backhand down the line winner before Alexander passed his and clinched the game for 4-4 and more drama.
Carlos missed a backhand in the ninth game, offering his rival two break points. Zverev seized the first, moving 5-4 in front and serving for the victory in game ten. Alexander landed a service winner on a match point, sealing the deal and moving into the semi-final.
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