Alcaraz on Zverev: If He Wants to Beat Me, He Has to Sweat a Lot

By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Photo credit: Australian Open Facebook

Carlos Alcaraz channeled focus into ferocity streaking into his maiden Australian Open semifinal.

World No. 1 Alcaraz streaked through 12 of the final 15 games shattering Aussie Alex de Minaur’s AO dreams with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 shellacking on Rod Laver Arena.

It was Alcaraz’s first Top 10 win in Melbourne Park sending him into his first AO semifinal.

“I’ve been working on this probably the concentration, the focus. Not having up and downs in the matches has been one of my best or one of the main goals for me, which I’m just trying to put into work really every practice,” Alcaraz said. “If I have a practice two hours, two hours and a half, playing sets or playing against another player, I’m just trying to play the same level and having the same concentration, you know, point after point after point.

“I think the work pay off and I just having a great mindset and a great concentration, you know, during the whole tournament, which I’m just really proud about seeing all the hard work pay off.”

The sixth-seeded de Minaur, who fell to Felix Auger-Aliassime in the US Open quarterfinals last September, suffered his seventh Grand Slam final quarterfinal loss. De Minaur is the third man in the Open Era, after Andrey Rublev and Tommy Robredo, to lose his first seven major quarterfinals.

De Minaur, who called Alcaraz’s level “freakishly good,” said the Spaniard’s hellacious spin gives him power and control the flat-hitting Aussie lacks.

“I mean, there’s a whole lot of risk for me to play at a very high ball speed, and I feel like, you know, some of my, in this case, your Janniks or Carlos, they have so many revolutions on the ball that they’re able to not only play at a higher speed,” de Minaur said. “But also have their consistency, because
they’re able to get that spin that helps the ball come down and create different angles as well.

“Yeah, there’s stuff that I need to look at and see and try to work out, but yeah, it is what it is.”

Continuing his quest to become the youngest man in history to complete the career Grand Slam, Alcaraz takes on Alexander Zverev for a spot in Sunday’s final.

Riding a commanding serve and crunching groundstrokes Zverev topped 20-year-old Learner Tien 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(3) in an entertaining match to rise to his 10th career Grand Slam semifinal.

The third-seeded Zverev zapped 24 aces against one double fault, served 72 percent and saved all three break points he faced continuing his streak of service games held. Zverev said the serve—and the first strike after the serve—were key components to advance to his fourth AO semifinal.

Former Olympic gold-medal champion Zverev beat Alcaraz 6-1, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-4 in the 2024 Australian Open quarterfinals. The six-time Grand Slam champion issued a vow ahead of their semifinal rematch.

“I’ve watched his matches through the tournament, which it was impressive the level he’s been
playing so far, so it’s going to be a great battle,” Alcaraz said. “I know that he’s serving pretty well. He’s playing really solid and aggressive when he can in the rallies from the baseline.

“I will be ready, for sure. I’m excited about playing him here in AO in a semifinal. So I know what I have to do. I will be well-prepared for that match, and yeah, if he wants to beat me, he has to sweat a lot.”

The pair have split six prior meetings with Alcaraz prevailing in their last major meeting in the 2024 Roland Garros final, 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.

Three-time Slam finalist Zverev continues his hunt for his maiden major title and believes he’s delivering the level to achieve it in Australia.

“I’ve worked on my game. I’ve worked on my aggressive game,” Zverev said. “I’ve been talking about
it. I’ve worked on my first shots after the serve, you know, my first forehand after the serve, maybe a bit more serve and volleying as well.

“If those things work for me, then I think success will come as well.”