‘He has to sweat’ – Can Alexander Zverev handle Carlos Alcaraz’s SF challenge at Australian Open? | ATP Tour

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‘He has to sweat’ – Can Zverev handle Alcaraz’s SF challenge at Australian Open?

World number one chasing career Grand Slam to take on last year’s Melbourne final

January 29, 2026

The stakes are higher than a berth in the finals at the Australian Open, with Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev meeting in Friday’s semi-finals with very different milestones, their Lexus ATP showdown perfectly balanced at 6-6.

PIF ATP No. 1 Alkaraz is chasing his first Australian Open title, which would see him complete a career Grand Slam, while for three-time Grand Slam finalist and last year’s Melbourne runner-up Zverev, the stakes are focused on a long-awaited first Grand Slam trophy.

Their match is scheduled to take place at Rod Laver Arena at 2:30 PM local time/10:30 PM ET.

🎾Alcaraz vs Zverev🧐

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Their path to the semifinals reflected this contrast. Zverev was tested multiple times, dropping four sets in five games, while Alcaraz was clinical throughout and reached his fourth consecutive Grand Slam semi-final – and first in Melbourne – without dropping a set. Since then, Alcaraz has closely tracked Zverev’s level and the number of casualties needed to maintain it.

“I’ve watched him play throughout the tournament,” Alcaraz said of Zverev. “The level he’s played at so far is impressive, so it’s going to be a great fight. I know he’s serving really well. When he can play at the baseline, he plays very consistently and aggressively.

“I’m definitely going to be ready. I’m excited to play against him here [at the] AO in the semi-finals. I know what I have to do. I will be fully prepared for that game. If he wants to beat me, he’s going to have to sweat a lot. “

Alcaraz showed his growing control in Melbourne with a quarter-final win over Alex De Minaur, upping his intensity after a nervy start with heavier hitting and disciplined attack. He will once again rely on these qualities to draw Zverev into physical confrontations.

Zverev’s movement is aided by his serve. He hit 24 aces against Learner Tien and used his first attack to shorten the points, a pattern that defines his game and will be central if he wants to avoid lengthy standoffs.

The semifinals could come down to whether Alcaraz can stretch Zverev and extend the exchange, or whether Zverev can tap into his serve and draw on his experience at this stage in Melbourne, including last year’s final, which is still new territory for Alcaraz at the Australian Open.

“I actually feel like the top players feel the most pressure at the beginning of the match, rather than going out early,” Zverev said before learning the results of the quarterfinals between Alcaraz and De Minaur. “Now, whoever I play against in the semi-finals, Carlos or Alex, they are both great players. You just expect a good game. That’s what you expect.

“Of course, as far as I’m concerned, I’m still chasing the Grand Slams I want. I still want to achieve that, but I also want to enjoy my tennis. Now that I’m doing that, that’s the most important thing for me.”

History is beckoning to both sides. The two sides fought 6-6, with a huge disparity in strength. This Australian Open semi-final is a test of strategy, endurance and courage.