Carlos Alcaraz loses to Alexander Zverev :
Alexander Zverev secured a hard-fought victory over No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Australian Open. The sixth-seeded Zverev displayed dominance with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 win on Wednesday, earning a spot in the semifinals.
Zverev initially appeared poised to close out the match in straight sets, leading 5-2 in the third set. However, Alcaraz mounted a comeback, winning the third set in a tiebreak (7-6, 7-2) to force a fourth set. Zverev admitted that overthinking and getting ahead of himself played a role in his third-set collapse against the reigning 2023 Wimbledon champion.
Despite facing an ankle issue that required medical attention before the fourth set, Zverev remained resilient and determined. The fourth set was closely contested, with both players breaking serve. Ultimately, Zverev secured a crucial break to go up 5-4 and closed out the match with a service winner.
Reflecting on the victory, Zverev acknowledged the challenges but expressed his satisfaction with being in the semifinals. He will face Daniil Medvedev in the next round, while Jannik Sinner takes on top-seeded Novak Djokovic on the opposite side of the bracket.
This win marked a significant achievement for Zverev, as it was his first victory over a top-5 player at a Grand Slam. The German player, who last reached the Australian Open semifinals in 2020, now eyes the opportunity to advance further in the tournament.
“I feel a bit destroyed right now,” said Medvedev, who clinched victory in just under four hours.
“He played good, I won’t be tough on myself. I just had to try and do whatever I could. If I lose, I lose, it’s OK.”