A massive opportunity missed by Zverev! Alcaraz powers his way back into the set, breaking Sascha just as he was serving for the equalizer. The German saved the first break point with a hefty first serve, but the top seed's forehand proved too much for the third seed. We are back on serve at 5-4!

Alcaraz holds to make it 5-3! The onus now shifts to Zverev as he serves for the set. It wasn't the most comfortable hold for the Spaniard, but they all count at this stage of a semi-final. It's the upper hand for Zverev, but he still has to get the job done and shut the door on Carlitos!

That's routine stuff from Zverev as he comfortably holds to go up 5-2. Alcaraz will now serve to stay in the set. It's unbelievable how quickly things can change in a match of this magnitude; Alcaraz is the one firmly under pressure now!

What a steal from Zverev! He breaks Alcaraz to take a commanding 4-2 lead in the second set. The German had raced to a 0-40 lead before Carlitos crawled his way back to 30-40, only to overhit his next shot and gift the break. The momentum has officially shifted!

Relentless chasing from Alcaraz, but Zverev eventually wins the physical rally, sending the Spaniard the wrong way with a clever change of direction. The German holds his nerve to take the game and now leads 3-2 in the second set.

Zverev with a jumping smash after forcing Alcaraz wide to hold!

In seven matches this year, Zverev has hit six double faults TOTAL. His double fault rate sat at just 1% coming into the match.
He hits two in one game to give the break away at 4-4 and Alcaraz takes the set.

— Gill Gross (@Gill_Gross) January 30, 2026

Zverev attempts to lob Alcaraz but overcooks it! That miss allows Alcaraz to level the second set at 1-1. This is turning out to be a cracker of a contest, with some truly incredible tennis on show from both men as they battle the heat and each other.

Zverev saves another break to hold the opening game of the second set! Nervy moments for the German as Alcaraz pushed hard for an early break. Zverev eventually holds to survive after a fifth deuce, but the intense Melbourne heat is certainly not making life easier for either man out there.

Alcaraz takes the first set 6-4 as Zverev fumbles at the finish line! The German gifted the crucial break to the Spaniard with a costly double fault. Alcaraz then held to love with clinical ease to claim the early advantage. It's 1-0 to Carlitos!

Zverev fails to capitalise on Alcaraz's first double fault of the match. The Spaniard resets to put together a run of four points. Makes it 4-4

Finally! Ace number 81 for Zverev. It couldn't have come at a more crucial time after Alcaraz earned a break point with a magical forehand winner. The German stood tall under pressure to erase the threat and hold his serve. He leads 4-3 in the first!

Interestingly, we've seen three aces so far from Alcaraz, while we are yet to see a single one from Zverev today. That's a major surprise considering the German leads the tournament with 80 aces coming into the semi-finals.

Zverev and Alcaraz aren't giving an inch to one another. It's 3-3 in the first set. The Spaniard had to grind it out again after gifting the opening point to Zverev, but he stayed composed to level the score.

Zverev's forehand lands just outside the tramline, allowing Alcaraz to level the score at 2-2 in this opening set. Clinical serving from the Spaniard so far; he isn't giving Zverev any room to breathe on the return.

Much better from Zverev as he holds to love to make it 2-1 in this first set. He got it done in under two minutes, topping the game off with a clinical, accurate forehand. It's been strictly neck and neck so far-neither man giving an inch!

Alcaraz holds to 30! A solid start to the set from the Spaniard. He opened the game with a clinical ace before racing to a 40-0 lead. A brief lapse allowed Zverev to claw back to 40-30, but the Spaniard nails another ace to himself a quick sigh of relief. It's 1-1.

And we are underway at Rod Laver Arena! A shaky start from Zverev, but he manages to hold at 30. His first-serve percentage was hovering at just 50% in that opening game, looking a bit wayward early on. However, a loose error from Alcaraz hands the German the opening game of the match.

Alcaraz and Zverev are in the middle, doing their pre-match warm ups. It is worth mentioning that Alcaraz is yet to drop a set in Melbourne this year. However, John McEnro feels Zverev has "got a shot at it (beating Carlos Alcaraz), for sure."

A fourth consecutive Slam final between the new 'Big Two'-Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner-is on the cards in Melbourne. Sinner, chasing a historic third consecutive Australian Open title, faces 10-time champion Novak Djokovic later today. With the first semi-final at Rod Laver Arena just moments away, the atmosphere is electric!

Alcaraz and Zverev have met 12 times previously, with both winning six matches each. The Spaniard was full of praise for his opponent after beating Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals.

"I have seen him throughout the whole tournament and I know he is playing great, aggressive tennis," Alcaraz said.

"I have to be ready, not just me but my whole team as well.

"We need to play tactically really well, it's going to be a great battle."

The Australian duo of Olivia Gadecki and John Peers made it two-for-two, clinching the mixed doubles title for a second consecutive year in Melbourne. They defeated Austria's Lucas Miedler and Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2 in straight sets. This victory marks John Peers' fourth Major doubles title and continues Gadecki's ascent as a hometown hero at Melbourne Park.

The German Zverev made the final last year and was thumped by Sinner before his season was blighted by shoulder, back and ankle injuries. But he is pain-free and with a newly aggressive approach could pose a threat. Zverev famously dismantled the Spaniard on this very court in 2024 and is himself hungry to banish the ghosts of three previous Grand Slam final defeats.

Alcaraz is on his own mission -- to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam of all four majors aged just 22. Rafael Nadal did it at 24. He has been in ominous touch so far in Melbourne, but faces a tricky challenge in the form of Zverev, who is still seeking an elusive first major crown at the age of 28.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the men's singles 1st semi-final at Australian Open featuring World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz and third seed Alexander Zverev. The Spaniard Alcaraz is looking to become only the sixth man in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam.