Spanish tennis star, Carlos Alcaraz, has secured his place in the final of the Australian Open after defeating Alexandre Zverev.
Alcaraz victory to advance to the final, his first in the competition, came following a 6-4, 7-6,(5) 6-7,(3), 6-7(4) and 7-5 hard fought win, which records his final appearance in all four Grand Slams and the youngest to achieve the feat.
During the semi final contest at the Rod Laver Arena, the world number one was emphatic, wining the first two sets and was as well two points from closing out the match late in the third set, but he began to lose ground and struggled with cramping after which the German Zverev pounced, sneaking out the third and fourth sets.
Zverev, at the game held on Friday, then broke in the opening game of the fifth set which appeared to be the final nail on the coffin but Alcaraz got to break point in three of his opponent’s service games in a row at 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3, however, he failed to convert and found himself down 5-2 in the decider, serving tostay in it.
The Spaniard soon held to close in to 4-5 and then he finally broke though in the next game to make it 5-all. He then held for 6-5 and broke again to close out the match after a ridiculous five hours and 27 minutes on court.
”I always say that you have to believe in yourself, no matter what struggles you’ve been through,” said the winner after the duel.
”I was struggling in the third set. Physically, it was one of the most demanding matches I have ever played in my short career, but I have been in these kinds of matches before so I knew what to do.
”I fought until the last ball, I knew that I was going to have my chances. I feel extremely proud of the way I came back in the fifth round and I am grateful for the fans’ support,” he concluded.
