Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first Australian Open trophy. However, things could have been much different!
World no. 1 faced Alexander Zverev in the semi-final and trailed 5-3 in the deciding set.
Carlos Alcaraz is struggling with what looks like cramp in the third set 🥵 pic.twitter.com/aTN3twByQ4
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) January 30, 2026
Refusing to surrender, the young gun overcame physical issues and his rival in a memorable 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5 victory in five hours and 27 minutes, celebrating in the third-longest match in Melbourne in history.
Carlos had to push his limits to the absolute edge, and he was more than ready to do so despite all the problems since the third set. The match provided everything – momentum swings, brutal rallies and physical suffering.
In the end, the 22-year-old kept enough strength and mental focus to emerge at the top and remain on the title course. Increasingly hampered by leg problems since from the third set onward, the world's best player refused to let the match slip away.
Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open 2026© Stream screenshot
Alcaraz produced his finest tennis when it mattered the most and rallied off four straight games in the closing stages to complete a stunning escape. After the match, the Spaniard admitted that he hates giving up, regardless of the scoreboard.
It was a powerful statement about his evolution. In the past, he was prone to moments of frustration in tough matches. Now, the image is completely different, with the 22-year-old acting like the ultimate warrior on the court.
He accepted suffering as part of the battle, always looking for solutions, even when his body is screaming to stop. That was the case against Zverev, but he refused to give up, even at 3-5 in the decider.
That mindset defined the night in Melbourne and kept him on the title path. He embraced every extra rally and every second of resilience. In the end, Alexander got tired and failed to send the match over the line.
Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open 2026© X – Australian Open
Carlos won wars of belief and recovered for the title clash two days later. The young gun bested Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in three hours and two minutes for his first Australian Open crown and tennis glory at 22.
"Well, I just hate giving up. I do not want to feel that way. There are some moments when it seems like, okay, I'm just giving up, or I'm not fighting at all. When I was younger, there were many matches I did not want to fight anymore, or I gave up.
Then I just got mature, and I hate that feeling after all. It's about thinking of doing a bit more or suffering a bit more. One second more of fighting is always worth it.
That's why I fight until the last ball and always believe that I can make a comeback in every situation," Carlos Alcaraz said.
