During the initial stages of his early profession, Carlos Alcaraz has enjoyed effortlessly achieving tasks that seem almost impossible. He has consistently excelled at a remarkable level, quickly learning from his errors and even when faced with challenging situations, he manages to find a way through.
Unfortunately, he was unable to do so this time. Although he made a valiant effort towards the end, a disappointing start from the second-ranked player put him at a significant disadvantage against Alexander Zverev. Zverev maintained a strong performance throughout four sets and managed to hold on in a challenging fourth set, ultimately winning 6-1, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-4 and advancing to the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
As a consequence, Zverev, who is seeded sixth, and the third seed Daniil Medvedev will compete for a place in the final on Sunday. Prior to this, Medvedev remained composed in the sweltering heat and managed to fend off a determined Hubert Hurkacz, securing a 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory to advance to the semi-finals in Melbourne.
On Wednesday night, Alcaraz was expected to easily defeat his opponent on Rod Laver Arena. However, their past encounters showed that there was a potential for danger. Zverev had a slightly better record of 4 wins and 3 losses against Alcaraz, including a memorable match at the 2022 French Open where he was able to defeat the Spanish player.
It was apparent that Zverev and Alcaraz shared a similar mindset, with Zverev swinging confidently while Alcaraz struggled from the start. Zverev set the pace by quickly giving away the first break without winning a single point, due to a poor and mistake-filled service game.
During the first two sets, Zverev performed strongly with his serves and was able to defend well from the back of the court. He effectively forced errors from his opponent and strategically moved forward to attack. However, Alcaraz struggled to control his errors and ended the first set with only two winners and 10 unforced errors. Although he appeared to gain momentum at the start of the second set, he quickly fell behind again as his unforced errors increased.
Alcaraz did not find a moment of inspiration until his final stand against Zverev, when the latter was serving for the match at a score of 5-3. Alcaraz displayed a fantastic return game, charging towards the net to secure a break while the crowd cheered. This momentum carried through to an impressive tie-break, leading to a fourth set.
The tides turned and Alcaraz dominated the fourth set, keeping Zverev on the defensive. Despite facing intense pressure, Zverev maintained strong serves and kept up with Alcaraz in the fast-paced rallies initiated by the Spaniard. He managed to hold on and eventually Alcaraz’s performance dropped, leading to a thrilling victory for Zverev.
Alcaraz stated, “I had a high level of confidence going into this match due to my previous performances. It’s unfortunate that I began the match poorly and ended it in the same manner. However, this is just the nature of tennis.”
Meanwhile, Zverev persists in competing and achieving victories despite facing severe allegations. Just before his first round match at the Australian Open, the Berlin criminal courts declared that he will have a public trial starting on May 31st for accusations of physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea and causing harm to her well-being. This trial is set to coincide with both the French Open and Wimbledon tournaments. Zverev maintains his innocence against these charges.
During the initial men’s quarter-final match, Medvedev seemed to be heading towards a convincing victory in four sets against Hurkacz. However, Hurkacz managed to rally and reclaim the break in the fourth set, ultimately pushing the match to a fifth set. Despite struggling with the intense heat as the match continued, Medvedev persevered and ultimately emerged as the winner.
Over the course of 11 eventful days, Medvedev has faced grueling five-set matches, sweltering heat, and a match that lasted until the early hours of the morning. He shared, “After each match, I am completely exhausted in the locker room. But with proper recovery, one day off is usually enough to feel refreshed for the next day. So far, I have been performing well in the beginning of matches, and that is what truly counts.”
Source: theguardian.com
