Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz is one step away from achieving a historic milestone, as he gears up to face either top-seed Jannik Sinner or defending champion Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final on Sunday. In a thrilling five-hour, 27-minute encounter that saw him overcome cramps and a bout of vomiting, Alcaraz outlasted third-seeded Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5.
The 22-year-old's remarkable comeback in the fifth set, which included a crushing forehand winner on match point, will be remembered for years to come. Despite struggling with cramps that required a medical timeout and vomiting in the third set, Alcaraz showed immense determination and perseverance to see it through.
"Believing. Believing all the time," Alcaraz said on court, reflecting on his mental toughness. "I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what struggles you're going through. You gotta still believe in yourself all the time." The young Spaniard credited his serve and a newfound sense of energy after drinking pickle juice as key factors in his comeback.
Alcaraz's victory marked the second-longest men's major semifinal in history, with the match lasting over five hours. The win propelled him to new heights, putting pressure on him to become the youngest man to capture the career Grand Slam at just 22 years old.
The Spaniard will now have two days to recover before facing either Sinner or Djokovic in the final. Both opponents pose significant challenges, with Sinner looking to retain his title and Djokovic seeking a record-breaking 25th major crown.
For Alcaraz, this moment is a culmination of years of hard work and dedication. "I'm really happy to have the chance to play my first final here," he said, expressing gratitude for the crowd's support throughout the tournament.
The 22-year-old's remarkable comeback in the fifth set, which included a crushing forehand winner on match point, will be remembered for years to come. Despite struggling with cramps that required a medical timeout and vomiting in the third set, Alcaraz showed immense determination and perseverance to see it through.
"Believing. Believing all the time," Alcaraz said on court, reflecting on his mental toughness. "I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what struggles you're going through. You gotta still believe in yourself all the time." The young Spaniard credited his serve and a newfound sense of energy after drinking pickle juice as key factors in his comeback.
Alcaraz's victory marked the second-longest men's major semifinal in history, with the match lasting over five hours. The win propelled him to new heights, putting pressure on him to become the youngest man to capture the career Grand Slam at just 22 years old.
The Spaniard will now have two days to recover before facing either Sinner or Djokovic in the final. Both opponents pose significant challenges, with Sinner looking to retain his title and Djokovic seeking a record-breaking 25th major crown.
For Alcaraz, this moment is a culmination of years of hard work and dedication. "I'm really happy to have the chance to play my first final here," he said, expressing gratitude for the crowd's support throughout the tournament.
oh man what a comeback from Carlos Alcaraz! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time watching him outlast Alexander Zverev 
5 hours and 27 minutes is insane, but that last set was something else 
I love how he gave credit to his serve and pickle juice for giving him a boost of energy 
it's clear he's learned from past setbacks. The mental game is so important in tennis, and Alcaraz showed incredible resilience 
. Now, can he beat either Sinner or Djokovic? 
that's the question on everyone's mind!
! The way he came back from those cramps and vomiting? Unbelievable 
. It just goes to show that mental toughness really does matter. He's always talking about believing in himself and it looks like it paid off big time 
.
. He seems so humble too, just happy to have made it to the final. And can we talk about his serve and energy boost from pickle juice? Genius 
! Anyway, I'm rooting for him all the way, bring on Djokovic or Sinner 
like 5 hours is forever on court but he just kept going and it paid off in such an amazing way 
also idk about pickle juice but if it worked for him i'm definitely trying that next time 
The way he took care of himself during that medical timeout by drinking pickle juice is genius, who knew?! 
And now he's just one win away from history, I'm hyped for him! But man, Sinner or Djokovic are gonna put up a good fight, it's gonna be a battle royale! 
. And can we talk about his serve? It was like a game-changer out there 
. I don’t know how he's gonna handle the pressure of the final, but if anyone can do it, it’s this young Spaniard