Carlos Alcaraz 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 5-5 Alexander Zverev*
Danger for Alcaraz for the third game in a row. A double fault is followed by a forehand long. 0-30. Zverev moves two points away from the fifth.
Alcaraz goes big on his forehand which has been a fine strategy so far, taking the points to Zverev despite his condition.
Zverev puts his next return into the stands! He’s still two points away but Alcaraz has clawed a couple back.
Forehand winner from Alcaraz into the corner! 40-30.
And Alcaraz escapes again! He goes to the drop shot, Zverev scampers forwards, Alcaraz picks him off at the net!
The Rod Laver Arena roars.
(Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood30 January 2026 07:40
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 4-5 Alexander Zverev
A love-hold from Zverev and a reminder of the task Alcaraz faces as the German slams an ace.
Jamie Braidwood30 January 2026 07:34
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 4-4 Alexander Zverev*
Alcaraz shoots long on the backhand and will have to dig himself out of trouble form 0-30. Zverev looked on top in the rally, finding an angled return. Alcaraz makes it back, and Zverev nets.
Dig himself out of trouble? No one does it like Alcaraz, as he blasts a backhand winner down the line. It’s followed by a drop shot. Class from Alcaraz and he is getting the crowd going by shaking his racket!
Jamie Braidwood30 January 2026 07:31
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 3-4 Alexander Zverev
Alcaraz’s lateral movement appears to be coming back as he chases down Zverev’s strikes. Zverev moves another game closer to a fifth set, through, as Alcaraz returns into the net.
Jamie Braidwood30 January 2026 07:26
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 3-3 Alexander Zverev*
More danger signs for Alcaraz now! Zverev pings a return out wide and Alcaraz nets on the stretch. Then Zverev finds some depth on the return and Alcaraz nets.
Two break points. Alcaraz saves the first with an ace. He saves the second, too, with a disguised volley. Incredibly, Alcaraz gets through the game on serve.
Three hours, 33 minutes in, Alcaraz is still going.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood30 January 2026 07:23
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 2-3 Alexander Zverev
A chance for Alcaraz! His movement is still not at its explosive best, but he is able to get around the court a bit more freely. He reaches a short ball from Zverev on 30-30, but fires the forehand long when he had the opening.
But Zverev holds. Alcaraz’s return sails long.
Jamie Braidwood30 January 2026 07:17
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 2-2 Alexander Zverev*
Ridiculous. Alcaraz is still able to crack a smile as he puts a volley over the net from behind his back, then as he flashes the forehand past Zverev.
Alcaraz winning his match on one leg would be up there with one of his most remarkable escape acts.
Alcaraz steps it up with a fierce backhand down the line! He is asking for more from the crowd and is very much still alive in this!
Jamie Braidwood30 January 2026 07:13
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 1-2 Alexander Zverev
Alcaraz, somehow, is still winning some points when he gets his forehand into play.
He has to go for the big winners, though, and pushes long as Zverev holds.
(Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood30 January 2026 07:07
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 1-1 Alexander Zverev*
Alcaraz faces more danger in his opening service game of the fourth set, as he mistimes a drop shot, looking very weary, and brings up 0-30.
Zverev can’t take advantage. Staggering, really. From 0-30, he can’t make a return or make Alcaraz move.
He gets to deuce as the German reaches a drop shot and makes the overhead – with Alcaraz unable to extend to his left.
Zverev fires long after the forehand-forehand exchange.
Jamie Braidwood30 January 2026 07:02
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 0-1 Alexander Zverev
Strap in, everyone. Alcaraz is now receiving treatment on his left leg as well as his right. Zverev needs to be ruthless and finds an ace out wide to move to 40-0, with Alcaraz barely moving.
(REUTERS)
Jamie Braidwood30 January 2026 06:56