Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev will determine the last quarter-finalist at the Australian Open. Two rivals will embrace their eighth duel at Rod Laver Arena, with the more experienced German leading 4-3. Alexander prevailed over Carlos at last year’s ATP Finals, and the Spaniard will seek revenge in Melbourne, playing well in the opening four rounds and hoping for more against his first top-10 rival. Their first duel came in the opening round in Acapulco 2021, with Zverev beating the 17-year-old 6-3, 6-1 in an hour and 24 minutes. The German denied three out of four break points and clinched ten of the final 11 games from 2-3 in the opener. They battled for almost an hour in the opener, offering each other 15 break points. Carlos led 2-0 before Alexander erased the deficit and survived in game four. The German grabbed a break in game seven with a forehand winner, held in the next one and wrapped up the set with another break at 5-3.
Alexander Zverev & Carlos Alcaraz, ATP Finals 2023© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Zverev served well in the second set and broke the young gun in games four and six, serving for the victory at 5-1 and moving over the top with an ace. They met again later that year in the Vienna semi-final, with Alexander beating Carlos 6-3, 6-3. Alcaraz took down Matteo Berrettini the previous night and could not notch another top-10 triumph, taking only nine return points and earning one break chance. Alexander saved it and imposed his strokes on an indoor court, securing three breaks from four opportunities and controlling the scoreboard for a place in his 27th ATP final. A lot had changed by the next spring, with Alcaraz becoming one of the world’s best players in the first half of 2022! The Spaniard demonstrated that in Madrid, toppling the German 6-3, 6-1 in 62 minutes in the title clash, lifting his second Masters 1000 title a couple of days after turning 19!
Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev will battle for the eighth time at Rod Laver Arena.
After two late matches the previous days, Zverev had nothing left in the tank for an in-form rival, struggling on serve and return and settling with the runner-up prize. Carlos took down Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the previous rounds and carried that boost into the final, storming over his rival and lifting the second trophy of the season. The home favorite dropped six points in his games on the fast clay in Caja Magica. He stole half of the return points and turned them into four breaks from eight chances, controlling the scoreboard and sealing the deal in style. Alcaraz had the upper hand in the shortest, and mid-range exchanges, keeping everything fast and simple and welcoming Zverev’s 25 double faults. The German lost the ground in the second set, hitting a double fault at 1-5 and handing the trophy to his rival. A few weeks later, they battled in the Roland Garros quarter-final, and Alexander turned the tables with a tight 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 victory on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
unknown© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
It was Zverev’s first top-10 win at Majors, and he had to work hard for it, ending the rival’s streak of 14 consecutive wins on clay. Alexander saved four out of six break points and delivered three breaks, enough to seal the deal in four sets. Alcaraz could have forced a decider, squandering a set point in the tie break of the fourth set and experiencing his third loss against Zverev from four encounters. They had to wait almost for a year to embrace their fifth duel, facing in the Madrid Masters third round last May. The home favorite dominated the German for the second straight year in Caja Magica, booking a place in the quarter-final with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph in an hour and 22 minutes. Carlos had the upper hand in every segment, losing eight points in his games and offering Alexander no break points. A two-time Madrid Masters champion cracked under pressure, losing half of the points in his games and getting broken four times from ten chances presented to his rival.
Carlos Alcaraz & Alexander Zverev, Madrid 2022© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Alcaraz fired 21 winners and 12 unforced errors, reducing his rival to nine direct points. Carlos forged the lead in the shortest and most advanced rallies, doing everything right from start to finish and celebrating his second win over Alexander, both in Madrid. Their second match at Majors came in the US Open quarter-final in September, with the Spaniard earning a commanding 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 triumph in two and a half hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium, remaining on the title course. Zverev overpowered Sinner two days before and struggled with an injury against Alcaraz. However, he fought well, especially in the third set when he missed his chances. Carlos dominated Alexander’s second serve, earning four break points and seizing them all. The young gun saved all five break points, advancing into the semi-final and leveling his score with Zverev to 3-3. The seventh and most recent clash came at the ATP Finals last November, with Alexander notching a 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 win in two and a half hours. The German lost the opener in a tie break and stayed focused, defending five out of six break points and delivering three breaks to emerge at the top following a strong performance in sets two and three. Alexander saved a break point while serving for the win at 5-4 in the decider and moved over the top for his fourth victory over his young rival.
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