Zverev outs No. 2 Alcaraz; Australian Open semis set

By The Associated Press

Alexander Zverev made no mistake with his second chance to close out a win over No. 2-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.

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.”

No. 12-seeded Zheng Qinwen and Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska won women’s quarterfinals on Day 11 and will each play their first Grand Slam semi when they meet after a night sleep.

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, 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 will play Jannik Sinner in the other semifinal.

The women’s semifinal lineup was completed when Zheng won 10 of the last 11 games to fend off Anna Kalinskaya 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-1 and Yastremska beat beat Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-4. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and U.S. Open winner Coco Gauff will meet in the other semifinal.

Zheng, a U.S. Open quarterfinalist last year, regained control midway through the second set after Kalinskaya won six of the last seven points to take the first in a tiebreaker.

No. 93-ranked Yastremska won three matches in the qualifying tournament and became only the second qualifier to reach the women’s singles semis in Australia in the Open era.

ACFC acquires MF Rodriguez from Thorns

Angel City Football Club added midfielder Raquel “Rocky” Rodriguez in a trade with the Portland Thorns in exchange for $275,000 in allocation money.

Rodriguez, 30, has spent the past four seasons with the Thorns, making 72 appearances across all competitions.

“Rocky brings a high level of professionalism and presence to Angel City’s midfield and that’s combined with a tremendous amount of experience in this league and internationally as well,” General Manager Angela Hucles Mangano said. “We’re beyond thrilled that we are able to have her join our squad.”

Rodriguez has also made 85 appearances for the Costa Rican national team, including at the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

Before joining Portland, she began her NWSL career as the No. 2 draft pick in the 2016 draft by Sky Blue FC out of Penn State. She earned NWSL Rookie of the Year honors.

— Damian Calhoun

■ Liverpool will play Chelsea in a repeat of the 2022 English League Cup final after a 1-1 draw against Fulham secured a 3-2 aggregate win in the semifinals on Wednesday. Carrying a 2-1 first-leg lead, Jurgen Klopp’s team completed the job at Craven Cottage to set up the final at Wembley Stadium next month.

■ The Seattle Sounders signed young Argentinian winger Pedro de la Vega on Wednesday, adding another highly paid attacker to their lineup.

The 22-year-old will occupy a young designated player spot on Seattle’s roster and is the third designated player overall for the Sounders along with striker Raul Ruidíaz and Albert Rusnák. De la Vega’s deal runs through the 2027 season with an option for 2028.

Report: Dodgers adding lefy to rotation

The Dodgers, looking to put the finishing touches on a near-complete makeover of their starting rotation, are reportedly close to signing free agent lefthander James Paxton to a one-year contract for $11 million.

The signing, which the team has not announced officially, would take the Dodgers’ projected payroll for 2024 past $310 million and into the highest tier of the Competitive Balance Tax.

The addition of Paxton, 35, means the Dodgers will head to spring training with a starting rotation of Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler (who is expected to join the rotation at some point early in the season), Bobby Miller and Paxton. Young starters Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone and Landon Knack will compete as depth pieces. Paxton is the only left-hander in the group.

— Bill Plunkett

■ Rhys Hoskins and the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to a $34 million, two-year contract, filling the team’s opening at first base.

■ Outfielder/first baseman Joey Gallo is joining the Washington Nationals on a one-year deal. An All-star with Texas in 2019 and ‘21, the strikeout-prone Gallo has slumped recently. He hit .177 with 21 homers, 40 RBIS and 142 strikeouts last year with Minnesota.

Report: Doc Rivers will coach Bucks

Doc Rivers is finalizing a deal to take over as the Milwaukee Bucks coach a day after the firing of Adrian Griffin, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.

Rivers and the Bucks were still negotiating on Wednesday, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because no contract had been completed.

ESPN, where Rivers has worked this season an analyst, reported that Rivers has agreed to a deal in principle. ESPN’S public relations department released a statement on social media from head of event and studio production David Roberts saying, “We wish Doc well and we look forward to documenting the next chapter of his coaching career.”

Interim coach Joe Prunty was scheduled to coach the Bucks on Wednesday night.