Carlos Alcaraz overcame cramps and a late deficit to defeat Alexander Zverev in a record five-hour semifinal at the Australian Open. Novak Djokovic later outlasted Jannik Sinner in another five-set thriller, setting up a blockbuster final between the two rivals.
The men's semifinals at the 2026 Australian Open delivered two grueling five-set battles on January 30 in Melbourne. In the first match, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz edged Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 after 5 hours and 27 minutes—the longest semifinal in tournament history. Alcaraz, who had not dropped a set in his previous matches, took the first two sets but struggled with cramps in his right adductor during the third set at 4-4. He received a controversial medical timeout, drawing ire from Zverev, who called it 'bullshit' on court, as rules typically limit cramp treatment to changeovers.
Despite limited movement, Alcaraz held for 5-4 in the third but lost the tiebreak. Zverev leveled the match by winning the fourth-set tiebreak, then broke early in the fifth to lead 5-3 and serve for the win. Alcaraz rallied, breaking back at 5-4 and holding to seal victory on his first match point with a forehand pass. 'Believing all the time,' Alcaraz said in his on-court interview. 'Physically it was one of the most demanding matches I have ever played.' Zverev lamented missing chances in the second set, saying, 'I felt like I should have won that one.'
The match delayed the second semifinal, where Djokovic defeated defending champion Sinner 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in over four hours, snapping a five-match losing streak to the Italian. Sinner took the first set with a break, but Djokovic leveled it aggressively. Sinner edged the third, but Djokovic broke in the fourth and seventh game of the fifth, saving three break points at 4-3 to advance. 'It already feels like winning tonight,' Djokovic said, eyeing his 11th Australian Open title and record 25th major.
Alcaraz, 22, becomes the youngest man to reach finals at all four Slams and aims for a career Grand Slam. The final on Sunday pits youth against experience in a rematch of the 2024 Wimbledon final.
