Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the Australian Open as Alexander Zverev held off a spirited comeback by the Spaniard to win an absorbing quarter-final at 01:20 local time.
Germany’s Zverev was rewarded for a rapid start to win 6-1 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 against Spanish second seed Alcaraz.
Zverev served for victory at 5-3 in the third set but Alcaraz burst into life.
However, the sixth seed made no mistake the second time around to set up a semi-final with Daniil Medvedev.
Earlier, third seed Medvedev won 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 6-3 5-7 6-4 against Poland’s ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz.
“I feel a bit destroyed right now,” said Medvedev, who clinched victory in just under four hours.
“He played good, I won’t be tough on myself. I just had to try and do whatever I could. If I lose, I lose, it’s OK.”
The 27-year-old Russian is aiming for a second Grand Slam title after winning the 2021 US Open, while Zverev is searching for a first major triumph.
The pair will meet when the men’s semi-finals take place on Friday, with defending champion Novak Djokovic facing Italian fourth seed Jannik Sinner.
While Zverev will be aiming for his Melbourne final, Medvedev already has that experience, having been runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2021 and Rafael Nadal in 2022.
