No escape from Alcaraz: A 22-year-old’s legend grows in five-set Rod Laver Arena epic

Carlos Alcaraz has added another brilliant – and heroic – chapter to his burgeoning legend status.

The Spanish world No.1 looked headed for a comfortable victory when he rallied from 5-2 down in the second set to go two sets up on German star Alexander Zverev, before a sudden case of cramping late in the third set seemed likely to cost him his career Grand Slam bid.

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates his staggering win.Credit: Eddie Jim

But after almost five-and-a-half hours, Alcaraz surged back from 3-5 in the fifth set to stun Zverev 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (3-7), 6-7 (4-7), 7-5 and become the youngest man ever to reach the final at all four majors.

He awaits the winner of the second semi-final between two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time winner Novak Djokovic, but will spend the next 48 hours trying to physically recover.

“Believing. Believing all the time,” Alcaraz said of how he escaped.

“I always said that you have to believe in yourself, no matter the struggles you go through. You have to believe in yourself. I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically, it was one of the most demanding matches I’ve played in my short career.

“But I’ve been in these kinds of situations, these kinds of matches before. I had to put my heart into the match. I fought until the last ball.”

Alcaraz, who turns 23 in May, will now try to beat Rafael Nadal’s record as the youngest man to ever complete the career Grand Slam. Nadal was 24 years, three months and 10 days old when he won the 2010 US Open.

“I’m really happy to play my first final in Melbourne. It’s something I was pursuing a lot,” Alcaraz said.

“It’s been a great two weeks so far. My level is improving a lot. I couldn’t stay here right now, doing this interview [as the winner] without you guys. It was a real pleasure playing in front of all of you. The way you pushed me through every time, every ball was amazing.

“My head is about recovering, so I’m in good shape for you guys. See you on Sunday.”

This was the first five-setter on Rod Laver Arena for this year’s tournament and eclipsed retirement-bound Swiss great Stan Wawrinka’s four-and-a-half-hour second-round win over Arthur Gea for the longest match of the fortnight.

Alcaraz began cramping in his upper right leg with the finish line in sight in the ninth game of the third set, in what proved a match-altering twist.

His decision to call for the trainer and undergo a medical timeout enraged Zverev, who called the situation “bullshit” in an angry conversation with the supervisor in his native language.

The world No.3 continued his profanity-laced diatribe while speaking to his courtside team as Alcaraz received treatment and drank pickle juice in a desperate bid to keep alive his chances of making a maiden Australian Open final.

Alcaraz continued to fight despite being physically compromised with his movement, including his first-serve speed taking a significant hit as his legs betrayed him.

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