Carlos Alcaraz warned he was improving all the time as he swept into his maiden Australian Open semi-final and a clash with Alexander Zverev.
Top-ranked Alcaraz silenced a partisan Melbourne crowd in brushing aside home hope Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena.
The 22-year-old Spaniard is yet to drop a set as he arrows in on a first Australian Open crown.
"I’m just really happy how I’m playing, each round my level is increasing,” Alcaraz said. “Today I felt really comfortable, playing great tennis that I am really proud of.”
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam that Alcaraz has not won. Should he beat Zverev and then win Sunday’s final, he would surpass compatriot Rafael Nadal as the youngest man to win all four majors. Nadal was 24 when he did it.
In a statement of his own, Zverev said he was playing without pain for the first time in 12 months after last year’s runner-up sent down 24 aces in a 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) victory over American Learner Tien.
World number three Zverev is desperate to finally win a Grand Slam at age 28, having lost three major finals including being well beaten in last year's title decider by Jannik Sinner.
The German's 2025 season fell away after that, winning just one title in an injury-hit campaign and he also struggled with his mental health, taking a one-month break after losing in the first round at Wimbledon.
"The last 10 days I felt healthy, which is very nice, and pain-free, which I haven't felt in a long time. Probably in 12 months," he said after dismantling Tien.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
