Alexander Zverev suffered another Grand Slam setback, losing in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open semifinals. Rafael Nadal's uncle, Toni Nadal, offered a harsh evaluation of Zverev's mental resilience under pressure. Alcaraz went on to claim the title by defeating Novak Djokovic in the final.
Alexander Zverev's quest for a first Grand Slam title ended in disappointment at the 2026 Australian Open. Seeded highly after reaching the final the previous year, Zverev faced eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals. The match, lasting five hours and 27 minutes, marked the longest semifinal in tournament history. Alcaraz prevailed in five sets, advancing to his first Australian Open final.
Toni Nadal, uncle of 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, provided a stark assessment of Zverev's performance. "Sascha is a very competitive player and is dangerous for everyone, but he lacks something from a mental point of view," Nadal stated. "Everyone has understood that he feels the pressure of having to win a Grand Slam title."
Zverev's history in Major finals underscores this narrative. He debuted in the 2020 US Open final, falling to Dominic Thiem in five sets. In 2024, he lost the Roland Garros final to Alcaraz, again in five sets. Last year's Australian Open saw him defeated in straight sets by Jannik Sinner in the championship match.
The semifinal was not without controversy. Alcaraz, battling cramps and vomiting during the match, took a medical timeout for what he described as adductor discomfort. Zverev accused tournament officials of favoring Alcaraz and Sinner. Former champion Andy Roddick defended Alcaraz on his Served podcast, arguing that players often cite related injuries for cramps within the rules. "Every single player on Earth would take what Carlos did," Roddick said.
Zverev later downplayed the issue post-match. "This person works for everyone equally in the entire tournament," he noted regarding the physio. "You can suspect it, but if you do not know for sure, you cannot make that judgment."
Alcaraz sealed his triumph by beating Djokovic in four sets in the final, becoming the youngest man in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam. This victory evened their head-to-head at 5-5, following Alcaraz's 2024 US Open semifinal win over the 24-time Major champion. Djokovic had reached the final by ousting Sinner in the other semifinal, his first Grand Slam final appearance since losing to Alcaraz at 2024 Wimbledon.
