Carlos Alcaraz has booked a date with destiny after hauling his body across the line to survive third seed Alexander Zverev in the longest Australian Open semifinal in history.
In his 10th major semi-final – his first at Melbourne Park – Alcaraz was in a commanding position at two sets up before his body began to fail him just two games from victory.
The world No.1 drew on all his mental and physical reserves to prevail 6-4 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-7(4) 7-5 and become the youngest player to reach all four major finals in the Open era.
In the third-longest match at Melbourne Park, the five-hour, 27-minute triumph kept the Spaniard’s bid for the career Grand Slam afloat.
Two-time reigning champion Jannik Sinner or 10-time champion Novak Djokovic stand between him and a seventh Grand Slam trophy on Sunday.
CARLOS ALCARAZ ON SURVING INJURY SCARE IN SEMI-FINAL
“I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what,” Alcaraz said. “No matter what you’re struggling [with, what] you’ve been through, no matter anything, you gotta still believe in yourself all the time.
“I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically it was one of the most demanding matches that I have ever played in my short career, I would say, but I’ve been in these kinds of situations.
“I’ve been this kind of match before. So I knew what I had to do. I had to put my heart into the match. I think I did it. I fought until the last ball. I knew that I was going to have my chances. I was passionate, you know, in the fifth set, but just extremely proud about myself, the way that I felt and the way that I came back.”
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