Alcaraz defies cramping to reach first AO final

Carlos Alcaraz benefitted from a controversial medical timeout for cramps as the Spaniard worked for five sets to defeat Alexander Zverev and book a first-ever finals place in the Australian Open on Friday.

The 22-year-old becomes the youngest man to reach the final of all four majors and will wait for an opponent as two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Melbourne winner Novak Djokovic bid to face Alcaraz in the Sunday final

Alcaraz took nearly five and a half hours to defeat Zverev 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5 to avoid becoming the first world No. 1 to have lost at the event from two sets to love up.

“I believed all the time, you have to believe in yourself,” the winner said. “I was struggling (cramping) in the middle of the third set.

“Physically, this was one of the most demanding matches I’ve played in my career.

“”But I’ve been in this situation before and I know what I had to do – I just put y heart into the match.”

After winning the first two sets against the German whom he now leads 7-6 in their head to head, Alcaraz suffered with cramping midway through the third set.

Under a rather loose interpretation of the rules which prevent treatment for that kind of problem, the doctor came out to deal with the top seed on the strength that Alcaraz was suffering as well with a thigh injury.

A dose of pickle juice which is useful against cramps did its job and Alcaraz steamed back into the match.

Zverev tied it up at two sets ech and broke to start the fifth before his Spanish opponent found a way to win

Alcaraz broke back for 5-all as Zverev served for the win, with the Spaniard adding an insurance break two games laer to clinch  his place in the final.

“I fought to the last point, I knew I would have my chances,” Alcaraz said. “I’m proud of myself and the way that I came back in the fifth.

“I’m happy to have the chance to play my first final here, to have the chance to fight for the title.”

Zverev, last year’s runner-up to Sinner, won his only previous Melbourne meeting with Alcaraz, in a 2024 quarter-final

Alcaraz is now the 12th man in the Open era to reach the final at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz into his first Australian Open Final – by ISF Ltd