PREVIEW

Carlos Alcaraz Battles Through Cramps to Reach His First Australian Open Final. The Spaniard defeated Alexander Zverev in a gruelling match lasting more than five hours to reach his first final at this Grand Slam — the only major title still missing from his collection. The semifinal was an epic, fiercely contested encounter between two players who know each other well, marked by extraordinary intensity and quality. Alcaraz ultimately prevailed 6–4, 7–6, 6–7, 6–7, 7–5. In the third set, the world number one briefly succumbed to the heat and to cramps brought on by the immense physical effort, requiring treatment from the physiotherapist. The decision to pause the match infuriated Zverev, the world number three, who argued that medical timeouts should be reserved for injuries, not fatigue-related issues. The stoppage came during Zverev’s strongest spell on the Rod Laver Arena court. Visibly angry, he accused tournament officials of favouring both Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz’s ordeal went beyond muscle pain and stiffness. At one point, he told his team he had vomited, adding: “I don’t know if I should take something.” Zverev capitalised by winning the third and fourth sets with authority, as Alcaraz appeared to be fading. However, the contest tightened again in the decisive fifth set. The closing stages were packed with drama. Zverev took the lead, but when it mattered most, Alcaraz dug deep, summoning his fighting spirit to seal the win despite intense pain. “You have to believe in yourself. Physically, this is one of the toughest matches I’ve ever played,” Alcaraz said afterwards. “I knew I had to put my whole heart into it. I’m very proud of how I fought and came back.”
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