Key events
*Zverev 6-1, 6-3, 5-2 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)
The German starts the game shaky but he keeps going back to that big first serve, which takes him 40-15 after Alcaraz hits two returns long in a row.
He closes out the game with an incredible change of direction that leaves Alcaraz no chance.
The German is one game away from booking his spot in the semi-final.
Zverev 6-1, 6-3, 4-2 Alcaraz* (* denotes next server)
Alcaraz goes 40-0 with some much better serving. He’s hitting so much closer to the line and is finally showing some versatility to leave Zverev guessing.
He then wins the game with a fantastic lob over Zverev after bringing him closer to the net.
*Zverev 6-1, 6-3, 4-1 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)
More fantastic serving from the German. So far, he has only missed seven first serves in the entire match. He is giving his opponent no chance to gain some rhythm from the back of the court.
The rare time Alcaraz is able to return a serve, the two get a rally going but the Spaniard nets a forehand and his hands are on his knees as the crowd at the Rod Laver Arena try to give him a boost. It has seemed to work as he gets to deuce after a couple of well hit shots force Zverev to rush and hit the ball out.
The momentum is short lived though, and Alcaraz’s unforced errors continue to creep in as Zverev goes 4-1 up.
Zverev 6-1, 6-3, 3-1 Alcaraz* (* denotes next server)
The German has found a pattern on how to hurt Alcaraz and he goes up 40-30 in the fourth game of the third set. But Alcaraz takes it to deuce after Zverev nets a backhand. The Spaniard takes the advantage after a really strong serve but after a short rally he hits a relatively easy shot well far and we go back to deuce.
Alcaraz then double faults and then cannot commit to a rally, handing Zverev the game. Wow! The world No 2 is really losing his head here.
*Zverev 6-1, 6-3, 2-1 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)
“Possibly his best serving at a grand slam ever,” Kyrgios says on Zverev. He is absolutely destroying Alcaraz.
The Spaniard is now at 22 unforced errors; a really poor showing.
*Zverev 6-1, 6-3, 1-1 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)
A speedy ace and some nice forehand winners gets Alcaraz on the board. His body language is telling though. He knows this is a mountain to climb.
Zverev 6-1, 6-3, 1-0 Alcaraz* (* denotes next server)
A massive serve from the German catches the world No 2 off guard. He holds to 15.
Thanks Michael. A lot for Alcaraz to do here. He is 0/6 in coming back from two sets down in his professional career, so the odds are stacked against him.
Going to hand over to my colleague Yara El-Shaboury for a bit, while I get a bite to eat. Enjoy the third set!
Zverev wins the second set! He leads Alcaraz 6-1, 6-3!
Some nice soft hands from Alcaraz at the net but the Spaniard can’t shake Zverev on his serve. At 30-30, Zverev scampers around with some excellent defensive work, moves to the net and forces the error from Alcaraz. Set point for Zverev, and the German converts! Of course he does! Zverev is playing out of his skin, and it feels like there is no way back for Alcaraz. He’s two sets down and we’ve only been playing for an hour and 10 minutes.
Zverev 6-1, 5-3 Alcaraz* (* denotes next server)
Zverev starts with an ace and moves to 40-0, before holding to love. The German is outgunning Alcaraz at the baseline and on the service, reading his dropshots and despatching the Spaniard at the net with some excellent volleys.
Zverev has only given Alcaraz four second serves. An utterly ridiculous stat, over an hour into this contest. He’s a game away now from a 2-0 set lead.
Zverev* 6-1, 4-3 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)
For a man that is 6ft6in, Zverev is such a good mover. He’s very much a modern tennis player, away from the old servers like Ivo Karlovic, and can really get around the court. Zverev dives to the net to reach an Alcaraz drop shot to win the first point of the game, and rips a brilliant forehand down the line to go 15-30 up. Another poor drop shot from Alcaraz gives Zverev deuce, and the Spaniard is lucky to avoid break point as a Zverev backhand drifts just wide. After exchanging a few points, some masterful Zverev work at the net does earn a set point and the German converts! Wooooooow! Zverev has the break, and he’s now favourite to take a two-set lead! Alcaraz nearly slams his racket on the court in frustration, but just about keeps his composure.
Zverev 6-1, 3-3 Alcaraz* (* denotes next server)
Both men are grunting now with each shot. Some serious firepower coming down from both sides of the net, but it’s Alcaraz who prevails here, ripping a scorching forehand to the postage stamp. Zverev just looks to his corner for help. Not a lot to be done about that. Alcaraz creates two break points, his first on Zverev’s serve, but the German responds well to get back to deuce, battling his way through a baseline rally before Alcaraz bunts one into the net. Two brutal serves later and Zverev holds, but that was a real fight. Three-all in the second.
Zverev* 6-1, 2-3 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)
Rally of the match, 17 shots long, as Zverev defends brilliantly before turning the tables on Alcaraz, passing him at the ne … no! Alcaraz reaches out his racket and somehow stretches to volley a winner down the line. Alcaraz lets out his first roar and his customary fistbump to his corner. The rest of the game is an easier affair for Alcaraz, who holds to retake the lead, but it remains on serve in this second set.
Zverev 6-1, 2-2 Alcaraz* (* denotes next server)
Zverev has got so much better with his volleys. In the early part of his career, it was an area he was relatively weak on, considering how much of a weapon the serve-volley is for him. But now he uses that wingspan brilliantly at the net, and plays a lovely volley here, as Alcaraz scrambles around after the ball. Zverev holds to love. He looks untouchable at the moment on his serve.
Zverev* 6-1, 1-2 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)
This feels like the first game where Alcaraz has looked like himself. It’s only taken him 40 minutes to get into the match. A few good serves and a few errors from Zverev means Alcaraz moves 2-1 ahead in the second set. We’re still on serve.
Zverev 6-1, 1-1 Alcaraz* (* denotes next server)
Zverev again moves to 40-0 with ease. He’s making this look simple, as he reads a Alcaraz drop shot and despatches the following ball, before clinching the game with an acute forehand winner cross-court, which has Alcaraz nearly sprinting into the umpire.
Interesting that it is Alcaraz that is currently faltering in the longer rallies, an area where you would expect him to dominate. Zverev has had a gruelling road to this quarter-finals with two five-setters – over 14 hours of play, over five hours more than Alcaraz has faced – but he looks the fresher here!
Zverev* 6-1, 0-1 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)
Into the second set we go. Alcaraz to serve, and a couple of good first serves to the body gives the Spaniard a couple of much-needed cheap points. In the end, it’s an easy hold. Maybe Alcaraz has turned a corner?
An interesting stat: Zverev has won just two and lost 14 matches against the top 10 at majors, although one of those wins was against Alcaraz, at the 2022 French Open quarter-final.
Zverev actually has a winning record against the Spaniard, winning four and losing three of his seven matches against Alcaraz, who looks completely lost here at the Rod Laver Arena.
Zverev takes the first set over Alcaraz 6-1!
Alcaraz is moving further and further back behind the baseline in an attempt to retrieve these Zverev serves. But it doesn’t seem to work. Zverev zooms to 40-0 up and clinches the first set with an ace! An almost flawless set of tennis against the world No 2!
Zverev* 5-1 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)
At 40-30 up, Alcaraz sends a nice serve out wide, but Zverev’s wingspan means he covers it easily, and sends a wonderful crosscourt backhand past Alcaraz to earn deuce. Every service game is a battle for the youngster, who is once around brought back to deuce by a thunderous Zverev backhand. The German is hitting them from the forehand corner! Zverev moves to break point, and an unforced error from Alcaraz gifts Zverev yet another break of serve! Now, then. Two breaks up, Zverev will serve for the first set.
Zverev 4-1 Alcaraz* (* denotes next server)
Another easy service hold for Zverev. Alcaraz must be worried at how easy the German is making it look.
I would say it is a pleasure to hear Kyrgios on commentary. Real insight that is sorely lacking from most tennis commentators, although I think we can all agree it would be better to have Kyrgios out on court. That, sadly, doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. See below.
The Australian describes Zverev’s toss as being unusual, the German doesn’t hit the ball at the apex of the throw, like so many other great servers. Replays back that up. I hadn’t noticed Very interesting.
Zverev* 3-1 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)
The first signs of life for Alcaraz, who dominates his first point of the match. But Zverev roars back, passing Alcaraz at the net, before ripping a searing forehand up the line. Zverev looks in great nick but after a close five-minute game, Alcaraz prevails, and holds his serve. He’s up and running but it’s been a struggle so far for the Spaniard.
Zverev 3-0 Alcaraz* (* denotes next server)
Perfect serve out wide for Zverev, then a deadly backhand crosscourt to finish the point. Alcaraz hasn’t got anywhere near it so far. Zverev holds, after making 9/10 first serves in his first two service games. That backhand is just so clean. Nick Kyrgios is in the commentary box for Eurosport and he said it’s one of the best shots in tennis.
Zverev* 2-0 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)
Zverev breaks to love. An extremely and uncharacteristic start from Alcaraz, who bunts a few tame efforts into and over the net. Easy pickings for Zverev, who must already fancy himself for this first set. The German is just so hard to break!
Zverev 1-0 Alcaraz* (* denotes next server)
Zverev holds with the first service game. Standing at 6ft6in, the German’s serve is one of his biggest weapons and he typically sends it down at over 210mph. Zverev has made 75% of his first serves this tournament, which gives his opponents very little opportunity for break points and breaks of serve. Zverev finishes the game with a lovely touch at the net. He looks fired up.
Right, we’re back and both Zverev and Alcaraz are out on court! Let’s do this.
That was a goodun. Congrats to Zheng. Right, next up are the men.
Alexander Zverev v Carlos Alcaraz for a place in the men’s singles semi-finals. The winner will play Medvedev, who earlier came through in five sets against Hurkacz.
I’m off for a cuppa. See you in two ticks.
Zheng will rise to No 6 in the rankings if she takes the Australian Open title. She is fully capable of that.
Zheng met Li Na a few days ago in Melbourne, following her third-round win. Li Na is Zheng’s idol, and definitely an inspiration to the 21-year-old. Zheng has admitted to watching Li Na’s 2014 victory more than 10 times.
Ten years after Li Na won here in Australia, another Chinese star is rising. Zheng reaches her first grand slam semi-final, where she will face qualifier Dayana Yastremska.
Zheng speaks to the crowd:
She was hitting really good baseline shots. It was really tough for me. I was just thinking ‘stay focused’. I’m so happy to be in the semi-finals. I want to say thanks for all the fans that are supporting me.
She is told she will now be in the top 10 after reaching the last four.
Thank you for telling me. Nobody tells me anything!
Zheng wins! Kalinskaya 7-6 (4), 3-6, 1-6 Zheng
Zheng is automatic now, swatting a forehand winner away with ease. Her level has risen, and Kalinskaya’s has dropped, as she bumps an unforced error into the net for 15-30. Zheng punishes a weak second serve to earn match point … and another error from Kalinskaya gives Zheng the victory!
Kalinskaya* 7-6 (4), 3-6, 1-5 Zheng (* denotes next server)
Two consecutive aces for Zheng takes her to 40-15 but Kalinskaya gets back to deuce. But Zheng is fired up, screaming as she holds serve. It seems the Russian has overcome her hip injury, but I’m not sure about the scoreline. When Zheng is good, she’s very, very good. A serious contender for the title here, if she plays as he has in this third set. Zheng is one game away from victory.
Kalinskaya has called the trainer on. It seems she is struggling with some sort of hip injury, or possibly something in her back? Kalinskaya lies down on the court by her bench, as the physio stretches out the Russian’s right leg. It does seems to be a hip issue. For the first time, Kalinskaya’s expression changes from a serene one. She’s in obvious pain.
Kalinskaya 7-6 (4), 3-6, 1-4 Zheng* (* denotes next server)
Zheng has more energy, and at 30-30 wins a point she has no right to after some great defensive work. Break point for Zheng. This might as well be match point … and the Chinese breaks serve again, with Kalinskaya skying a forehand beyond the baseline. That’s four games in a row for Zheng – surely Kalinskaya can’t recover from 4-1 down here?
