Zverev ousts No. 2 Alcaraz
MELBOURNE, Australia — Alexander Zverev made no mistake with his second chance to close out a win over second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday night and moved into an Australian Open semifinal against two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev.
The sixth-seeded Zverev missed a chance to serve it out from 5-3 in the third set but he didn’t blink when he got another chance in the fourth after Alcaraz rallied, finishing off a 6-1, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-4 victory.
Alcaraz won Wimbledon last year and was the only player to beat 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam match in 2023. The 20-year-old Spaniard won’t get the chance in Australia this time.
The sixth-seeded Zverev’s reward was a spot in a major semifinal for the seventh time.
“Look, I’m playing one of the best players in the world, especially over the last two years,” Zverev said. “Then when you start winning, obviously your brain starts going. It’s not always helpful but I’m happy I got it at the end.”
Zverev, speaking in a news conference at 3 a.m. local time, considered Wednesday’s result his most important since returning from an ankle injury layoff that ruled him out of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2022.
“I was on top of my game before the injury happened,” he said. “I’m extremely happy to be back where I am and winning these kind of matches, giving myself the chance again. Because last year ... I wasn’t a Slam contender.” Alcaraz missed the 2023 Australian Open with injury and was into the quarterfinals here for the first time, completing a Grand Slam set.
He had dropped only one set and spent five fewer hours on court than Zverev in the four previous rounds.
“I’m sad with my level today, because I have been playing good tennis,” Alcaraz said. “Obviously quarterfinal of a Grand Slam is a good run. It’s not what I’m looking for, but is not bad.”
Medvedev, the No. 3 seed and a two-time finalist in Australia, outlasted ninth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to make it to the semifinals here for the third time in four years. Djokovic, the No. 1 player in the world, will face No. 4 seed Jannik Sinner in Friday’s other semifinal.
The women’s semifinal lineup was completed when No. 12 seed Zheng Qinwen of China and Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska won women’s quarterfinals earlier Wednesday. Zheng won 10 of the last 11 games to fend off Anna Kalinskaya 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-1 and 93rd-ranked Yastremska beat beat Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-4.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and U.S. Open winner Coco Gauff made up the other semifinal.
The women’s semifinals were scheduled to be held early Thursday after this edition went to press.