NO GREAT ESCAPE FOR ALCARAZ
Carlos bid for dream Djokovic final is stunned by smart Alex
WIMBLEDON champion Carlos Alcaraz was left stunned as Alexander Zverev sent him crashing out of the Australian Open – just as he threatened a midnight comeback.
German Zverev triumphed 6-1 6-3 6-7 6-4 to book a semi-final date tomorrow with Daniil Medvedev.
Such has been the dominance of Spaniard Alcaraz that losing this quarter-final clash was the world No.2’s earliest Grand Slam exit in 18 months.
Zverev looked unstoppable in the first two sets and, just after midnight, he was serving for a straight sets win when Alcaraz broke for the first time.
He got back to 5-5 and won the last seven points of the tiebreak to make it 2-1, flashing a big smile after earning four set points when he chased a ball wide and hit a forehand passing shot.
After an exchange of service breaks to open the fourth and some rallies of incredible shots, Zverev had another chance to close out after breaking in the ninth game.
As he clinched victory at 1.19am, he let out a scream of relief.
“I’m playing one of the best players in the world,” said Zverev (above). “Especially over the last couple of years, he’s been No.1 or No.2, he’s won two Grand Slams.
“When you are up 6-1 6-3 5-2, you start thinking. We are all human.
“It’s a great honour to play against guys like him and then when you’re so close to winning obviously your brain starts going and it’s not always helpful. “But I’m happy that I got it in the end.”
Looking ahead to his Medvedev clash, the first time they have met in Grand Slam, Zverev said: “He’s been kicking my a** a lot over the last year or so, but maybe this will be it, this will be the place.”
Alcaraz was glad to have played “great tennis” in the third set, but said: “The beginning of the fourth set, I couldn’t stay at this level. It was a pity.
“But I found the way to break him, his serves, and stay in the match. It has been a good tournament, making quarterfinals, playing good tennis.”
Russian Medvedev beat Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 2-6 6-3 5-7 6-4 on another steamy Melbourne afternoon.
After taking his first match point with an outrageous drop shot, the two-time finalist acknowledged his French coach Gilles Cervara and his team.
“I sent them kisses,” he laughed. “It was probably the first time in my life I did it, so I don’t know if I’m going to do it again, but he knows how much I love working with him or we wouldn’t be together. I hope he loves working with me, too.”
■ Rohan Bopanna, 43, will be the oldest-ever world No.1 in the new rankings on Monday after the Indian and his Aussie doubles partner Matt Ebden reached the men’s doubles semifinals. “I think for every player out there, it is a dream,” he said.