Carlos Alcaraz on recovery for Australian Open final | ATP tour | Tennis

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Alcaraz: I will do ‘whatever it takes’ to be ready for the Australian Open final

The world number 1 made it through the five-hour, 27-minute semi-final against Zverev
January 30, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz had to summon every last bit of energy to beat Alexander Zverev in an Australian Open classic on Friday. After five hours and 27 minutes of back-and-forth semi-final play at Rod Laver Arena, the Spaniard quickly focused on physical recovery for Sunday’s championship match.

Alcaraz, No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, battled an injury to his upper right leg from the closing stages of the third set of his 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 victory against Zverev. He later revealed that he thought the problem was with his adductor muscles, but expressed confidence that he would like to go for the title match against Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic.

“Well, I definitely feel tired,” Alcaraz, who on Sunday would become the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam by taking his first Australian Open title, said at his post-match press conference. “Of course my body can do better, to be honest, but I think that’s normal after five and a half hours. [After the match] I just did what I needed to do to try to be better, to feel better tomorrow. Ice bath… I’m now going to see the physio, and we’ll see.

“Hopefully it won’t be anything at all, but after a five and a half hour match and that high physical level I think the muscles will be tight and I just have to do what it takes to be as good as I can for the final.”

The @carlosalcaraz mentality 🔥@AustraliaOpen | #AO26 pic.twitter.com/GmNYvBObdL

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Against Zverev, Alcaraz could barely reach the end of the third set and much of the fourth set, but he broke free in time and came back from 3-5 in the decider to triumph in the longest semi-final in Australian Open history.

“This was one of the most demanding matches I have played in my career so far,” said the 22-year-old. “I think we pushed each other physically to the limit today. We pushed our bodies to the limit. I think the level of the fifth set was really high.”

“I’m just very happy with the win, that I came back. I rank this in the top position, [among] one of the best matches I have ever won.”

Alcaraz is now 15-1 in fifth sets and has become the youngest man to reach the final at all four Grand Slam events. If he wants to complete the Career Grand Slam on Sunday, he may have to reproduce some of the remarkable fighting qualities he showed to beat Zverev.

“When I was younger, there were a lot of matches where I just didn’t want to fight anymore or I just gave up,” said the six-time national champion. “Then I just grew up, and I just hate that feeling… Every step more, even one more second of suffering, one second more of fighting is always worth it. That’s why I just fight until the last ball and always believe that I can come back in any situation.”