2026 Australian Open SF - [1] Carlito Alcaraz vs. [3] Sascha Zverev

Who will win this match?

  • Total voters
    87
  • Poll closed .
Good to see that most people here aren't labeling Zverev as a choker for losing this one. He gets rightful flack for that, but this was a monumental effort from him to attempt to come back from 0-2. The forehands he was hitting during the big points were amazing. I would not mind him winning a slam if he played with conviction like that.
 
mightyjeditribble said:
Are we sure it was only cramp? Did he say anything in the on-court interview (couldn't watch)? The press conference may bring some answers. If it was cramp, was Zverev hard done by, given Carlos should not have gotten a medical time-out?

As I said, I didn't watch, but I think normally there is an assessment, and then the time-out starts. If the assessment is that it is cramps, presumably there would not have been a time-out?
Click to expand...
Was definitely cramp, probably more out of pressure of what he was about achieve than anything physical. Hate to admit it but Zverev was rightly going off his head at the medical time out Carlos received for it.
 
Jack the Hack said:
In 1992, Stefan Edberg won three consecutive 5 set matches to make the US Open final, where he then beat Pete Sampras in 4 sets to take the title. In his semifinal, he battled Michael Chang for almost 5 1/2 hours.

After watching that, I believe any top athlete is capable of performing well in a Slam final, no matter how physical their path was to get there.

My point is that if anyone thinks Alcaraz will be too depleted to win the title, they are mistaken. He's young, has almost 2 days to recover, and the weather for the final is supposed to be cool. Either Sinner or Djoker will be in for a huge battle.
Click to expand...
I remember that year. I may be misremembering, but I think Edberg spent more time in court in the Chang semi final than Seles did to win the entire tournament.
 
placebo said:
Good to see that most people here aren't labeling Zverev as a choker for losing this one. He gets rightful flack for that, but this was a monumental effort from him to attempt to come back from 0-2. The forehands he was hitting during the big points were amazing. I would not mind him winning a slam if he played with conviction like that.
Click to expand...

1st set, chucked his serve.
2nd set tie break, blew an easy point that would have given him set point in the tie break.
5th set, he couldnt handle the pressure that he was serving to win.

He absolutely choked when it mattered.
 
Thx for taking the trash out Carlito, highly appreciated indeed! The Zodrot protesting angrily against the medical timeout for Raz, wow, what a lowlife. #ABZ
 
Last edited:
placebo said:
Good to see that most people here aren't labeling Zverev as a choker for losing this one. He gets rightful flack for that, but this was a monumental effort from him to attempt to come back from 0-2. The forehands he was hitting during the big points were amazing. I would not mind him winning a slam if he played with conviction like that.
Click to expand...
Trust us it was an epic choke
 
RossiBhoy said:
Was definitely cramp, probably more out of pressure of what he was about achieve than anything physical. Hate to admit it but Zverev was rightly going off his head at the medical time out Carlos received for it.
Click to expand...
ATP calls it an upper right leg injury.

It was at 4-4, 15/15 in the third set when the real drama began. Alcaraz appeared to pull up and struggle with an upper right leg injury when serving at 4-4 in the third set. He twice received treatment from the tournament physio, and he was unable to stop Zverev from clawing his way back into the match from there.
Click to expand...

www.atptour.com

Carlos Alcaraz outlasts Alexander Zverev in record Australian Open SF marathon | ATP Tour | Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to his maiden Australian Open final in dramatic fashion on Friday afternoon, where he overcame physical problems to secure a marathon win against Alexander Zverev.
www.atptour.com www.atptour.com

So at least that is presumably what it was assessed as by the physio. Whatever it is, I hope he can recover by Sunday to give us a great final.
 
placebo said:
Good to see that most people here aren't labeling Zverev as a choker for losing this one. He gets rightful flack for that, but this was a monumental effort from him to attempt to come back from 0-2. The forehands he was hitting during the big points were amazing. I would not mind him winning a slam if he played with conviction like that.
Click to expand...
One of the grittiest matches I've seen from Zverev. He just had nothing left in the tank in the end. Would have been a bit anticlimactic had he won, but not undeserved.
 
RossiBhoy said:
Was definitely cramp, probably more out of pressure of what he was about achieve than anything physical. Hate to admit it but Zverev was rightly going off his head at the medical time out Carlos received for it.
Click to expand...
Yes. You cant get thigh pain on both sides at same time. He misled and took advantage
 
I went to bed at *1-3 in the fifth after Alcaraz failed to break after two break points, quietly resigned to making excuses for the impending loss…Charlie you beautiful b*stard. Get those legs massaged out you’ve got a huge one on Sunday. BAMO!!!
 
Mustard said:
Zverev still played passive when he served for the match, like hoping that Alcaraz makes errors to gift it to him. This isn't survival on the battlefield, you've got to go out and grab the prize!
Click to expand...
It was a good strategy up to that point when Carlos was 2/12 on BPs because he couldn't stop making errors. Even one of them he converted was on a double-fault.

But you can only keep him down for so long, eventually he started winning the big points again.
 
MeatTornado said:
It was a good strategy up to that point when Carlos was 2/12 on BPs because he couldn't stop making errors. Even one of them he converted was on a double-fault.

But you can only keep him down for so long, eventually he started winning the big points again.
Click to expand...
At the very, very top level, you shouldn't be relying on your opponent making errors at the crucial moments. Zverev should know that through experience by now.
 
mightyjeditribble said:
ATP calls it an upper right leg injury.



www.atptour.com

Carlos Alcaraz outlasts Alexander Zverev in record Australian Open SF marathon | ATP Tour | Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to his maiden Australian Open final in dramatic fashion on Friday afternoon, where he overcame physical problems to secure a marathon win against Alexander Zverev.
www.atptour.com www.atptour.com

So at least that is presumably what it was assessed as by the physio. Whatever it is, I hope he can recover by Sunday to give us a great final.
Click to expand...
I think he'll be fine regarding whatever was bothering him.
 
RossiBhoy said:
Was definitely cramp, probably more out of pressure of what he was about achieve than anything physical. Hate to admit it but Zverev was rightly going off his head at the medical time out Carlos received for it.
Click to expand...
You can say he didn't choke, but he totally failed to make a cramping opponent move as much as he possibly could, he couldn't break him when he had him down until right at the start of the fifth, and then his first serve that got him back into the match totally abandoned him in the fifth set. Really, not good at all. The fact that it went 5 has got to be a major bummer for Alcaraz.
 
5 set, 4-5, serving for the match, got a chance, then hit very weak ball to the center where Alcaraz already stands, and rushing very slowly to the net.

Even Andy Roddick can do better than that.
 
...good tournament from Zvertold...noone expected a 5 setter...this will be his year...the year that he 'll win a grasla title ! ...bravo to Alcazar also ! .... :alien:
 
Mustard said:
At the very, very top level, you shouldn't be relying on your opponent making errors at the crucial moments. Zverev should know that through experience by now.
Click to expand...
I actually thought Zed was going for brave winners way more than normal today. But obviously that wasn't enough.

I'll be curious to go back and re-watch exactly what happened in those final 2 games where he got broken.
 
Carlos is young enough to withstand such a marathon and probably be fit again for Sunday. However, if Sinner finishes Novak off as quickly as i think, he will definitely be feeling much fresher than Carlos so that will give him a better shot at winning.
 
This match proved what a lot of us already knew. When he is playing well Zverev is the only player outside of Novak (few years ago) and Sinner, that can trouble Carlos and make him work really hard for the win.

It also proves that when it comes to crunch that chances of Zverev, beating Carlos or Sinner in a 5th set, is virtually zero. If Zverev doesn't take match in first 4 sets he is toast. Bit like when he played Novak or Rafa, if it goes 5 sets you can almost bet your house he will falter.
 
Boy that "leg injury" healed as if by miracle

It was cramps they'll just cover their own butts after breaking their own rule

good tennis anyway, that just cheapened it, almost certainly changed the outcome
 
TennisGrandpA said:
It’s high time Sinner wins this AO beating Carlos so @tennis_pro can’t keep making excuses
Click to expand...
Yes, Sinner has another draw from hell in Shelton, a 39-year old Djokovic in crapola form and Alcaraz after a 6 hour match. Damn dude, Sinner doesn't even have to dope again to win here, the stars have alligned.

Btw IM making excuses? ME? Dude you have an excuse for every Sinner loss against Alcaraz and you prop up his only 2 wins in the last 3 years like they were so obvious. Get a grip.
 
Last edited:
tennis_pro said:
Yes, Sinner has another draw from hell in Shelton, a 39-year old Djokovic in crapola form and Alcaraz after a 6 hour match. Damn dude, Sinner doesn't even have to dope again to win here, the stars have alligned.
Click to expand...
It’s Sinner’s Fault that Carlos let an easy match go into 5? It seems you have excuse ready already for the Sunday
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Enceladus
  • Poll Poll
AO 2024 QF - (2.) Carlos Alcaraz vs. (6.) Alexander Zverev
28 29 30
Replies
1K
Views
49K
TheSlicer
T
Enceladus
  • Poll Poll
2026 Australian Open QF - [3] Alexander Zverev vs [25] Learner Tien
2 3 4
Replies
198
Views
2K
Tallawah Tennis
T
Enceladus
  • Poll Poll
2019 French Open QF - [1.] Novak Djokovic (Ultron) vs. [5.] Sascha Zverev (Zod)
24 25 26
Replies
1K
Views
75K
NoleFam
NoleFam
Enceladus
  • Poll Poll
2026 Australian Open QF: [1] Carlos Alcaraz vs. [6] Alex de Minaur
4 5 6
Replies
250
Views
3K
ibbi
ibbi
Rafa4LifeEver
  • Poll Poll
2025 Australian open SF - [7] Novak Djokovic (SRB) v/s [2] Alexander 'Sascha' Zverev (GER)
15 16 17
Replies
819
Views
31K
Bride of Alcaraz
B
Back
Top