Alcaraz vs Zverev thriller sends Carlos Alcaraz into Australian Open final
Alcaraz vs Zverev delivered the kind of five-set chaos the Australian Open had been waiting for, with Carlos Alcaraz surviving severe cramps to outlast Alexander Zverev in a 5-hour, 27-minute semifinal on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. The win puts Alcaraz one match away from his first title in Melbourne and keeps his career Grand Slam bid alive at the aussie open, while Zverev (also known as Sascha Zverev) was left stunned after coming within two points of victory in the fifth set.
The match instantly reshaped the late-stage story at the AO and set the stage for a final weekend where endurance and recovery could matter as much as shot-making.
Alcaraz vs Zverev: 5h27 semifinal for the ages
In the biggest men’s match of the tournament so far, Carlos Alcaraz beat Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 on Rod Laver Arena. The marathon became the longest men’s semifinal in tournament history and one of the longest matches at Melbourne Park, with Alcaraz’s movement clearly compromised during the middle stages before he found enough spark to close.
The drama was heightened by a medical timeout during the cramp spell, a moment that became a flashpoint as Zverev questioned the timing. What didn’t change was the scoreboard: alcaraz zverev went to a decider, and Alcaraz finished it by winning the last four games.
Fans searching zverev vs alcaraz or tennis scores got a reminder of why five-set tennis still defines major championships: momentum swung repeatedly, and the match didn’t tilt for good until the final minutes.
Australian Open 2026 schedule: key remaining dates in ET
The australian open 2026 schedule runs through Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, with the men’s final closing the tournament. Melbourne’s night sessions land in the early morning in the U.S., so many American viewers experience the biggest moments as overnight viewing.
Here’s the late-weekend roadmap in Eastern Time (ET), aligned to the tournament’s standard evening starts in Melbourne:
| Event | Local start (Melbourne) | Start in ET (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s Final | Sat., Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m. | Sat., Jan. 31, 3:30 a.m. |
| Men’s Final | Sun., Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m. | Sun., Feb. 1, 3:30 a.m. |
Order of play can still shift with match lengths and weather, but the headline sessions above anchor the final weekend of the ao open.
Australian Open 2026 results: women’s final is set
On the women’s side, the australian open 2026 results now point to a high-powered final: Aryna Sabalenka advanced with a straight-sets semifinal win over Elina Svitolina, and Elena Rybakina reached the title match by beating Jessica Pegula in a tight two-set contest decided by tiebreak drama. That sets up a rematch of their earlier Melbourne final meeting, with both finalists arriving in strong form.
Tennis streams: how fans are watching the AO
Interest in tennis streams spikes on semifinal and final weekends, but the cleanest path is through official rights-holders and the tournament’s regional broadcast partners list. In the United States, the Australian Open is carried on ESPN platforms; in Australia, coverage runs through Nine and Stan Sport; in parts of Europe, Eurosport/discovery+ carries live matches; and other regions use local partners (including pay-TV and streaming packages depending on country).
If you’re trying to follow live tennis without spoilers, the best practical move is to use the broadcaster’s “start from beginning” option where available, since Melbourne night sessions often overlap with work and sleep schedules in North America.
Longest tennis match vs longest Australian Open match
Friday’s epic inevitably revived record talk. The longest tennis match in history remains John Isner vs Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, lasting 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days. The longest Australian Open match is still the 2012 men’s final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, a 5-hour, 53-minute classic that remains the longest Grand Slam final by duration.
Alcaraz–Zverev’s 5:27 sits below that benchmark, but its significance is clear: it reset the ceiling for a men’s semifinal in Melbourne and added a new endurance chapter to the modern rivalry between the sport’s top contenders.
Sources consulted: Australian Open (AO) official website; ATP Tour; Reuters; Associated Press; Tennis Australia.
