Alexander Zverev is back in the Australian Open semifinals on Thursday. The German was denied a straight-sets win but still got the job done.
The world No.6 took the first two sets and was up 5-2 in the third but was dragged to a fourth set. But Zverev recovered in time to oust Carlos Alcaraz, 6-1, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena.
Complacency nearly haunted Zverev as Alcaraz was close to forcing a deciding fifth set with a gallant stand. But the German broke to take a 5-4 lead before taking care of business to advance into the last four,
“When you’re up 6-1 6-3 5-2, you start thinking,” Zverev recalled. “When you’re so close to winning, honestly, your brain starts going and it’s not always helpful.”
It was Zverev’s seventh Grand Slam semifinal after finishing off Alcaraz in a match that lasted three hours and five minutes. The German realized at 1:19 am on Thursday that he would be playing in the last four in Melbourne for the second time.
Daniil Medvedev comes next for Zverev after the Russian outlasted Hubert Hurkacz, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. That match lasted three hours and 59 minutes.
