Carlos Alcaraz crossed a major milestone at the 2026 Australian Open, reaching his first final in Melbourne after a strong showing against Alexander Zverev. But the match took an unexpected turn after the Spaniard surged to a 6–4, 7–6(5) lead. As the contest wore on, Alcaraz appeared to struggle physically, and when he eventually called for medical assistance, it didn’t sit well with Zverev.

Earlier in the match, Alcaraz had told his team he had thrown up and might need medication, immediately raising concerns about his condition. By the third set, those worries became more visible. He was repeatedly shaking out his right leg and showing clear discomfort around his knee and thigh, even as he managed to hold serve and move ahead 5–4.

Moments later, Alcaraz took a medical timeout for treatment on his right quad and thigh just as Zverev was preparing to serve. The timing of the stoppage clearly frustrated the German, as Alcaraz had been allowed to halt play at such a critical moment in the match.

Zverev was heard yelling, “It’s unbelievable that he can get treated for cramps. This is bullsh-t.”

Despite Zverev pleading his case to the authorities, Alcaraz appeared calm as he received treatment. Under the rules, a player is allowed to take a medical timeout for an injury, but not for cramping. His irritation only grew when he realized that he was ready to serve after the changeover, yet play was delayed as Alcaraz’s treatment continued.

Adding fuel to the moment, tennis legend John McEnroe chimed in during the broadcast with a humorous but telling remark:
“I don’t speak German, Patrick, but I’m willing to bet he’s saying, ‘Look, he’s cramping. He doesn’t have an injury.'”

Another tennis bigwig, Jim Courier, also sympathized with Alexander Zverev on-air for Nine, agreeing that a clear mistake had been made. “This is such a travesty. They have totally botched this. That’s why Zverev is melting down right now.”

After this brief heating moment, the German quickly gained back momentum in this match and took away the third set in a tiebreaker 7-6 (7-3).

However, after battling through the third-longest match in Australian Open history, lasting five hours and 27 minutes, the Spaniard dug deep to outlast Zverev.

Still, his visible physical struggles sparked speculations about whether fitness concerns might once again stand in the way of victory, much like what happened at the ATP Finals.

Carlos Alcaraz relives ATP Finals Déjà Vu at the Australian Open

After grinding out a hard-fought semifinal victory, Carlos Alcaraz now finds himself one win away from completing the Career Grand Slam. Should he lift the Australian Open trophy, the Spaniard would become the youngest male player in the Open Era to achieve the feat.

That said, his visible physical struggles have cast a shadow over his quest for a maiden Australian Open title. Similar concerns surfaced last year at the Nitto ATP Finals, where Alcaraz was unable to play his trademark aggressive tennis and made uncharacteristic errors in the final against Jannik Sinner. He was even seen limping during that match, clearly hampered by injury.

The issues didn’t end there. Alcaraz was forced to withdraw from the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna after sustaining a hamstring injury during the ATP Finals in Turin. While he began the new season strongly and cruised through the early rounds in Melbourne, those physical challenges resurfaced during the semifinals.

Still, there was a positive takeaway. Alcaraz pushed through cramps and physical discomfort to outlast Alexander Zverev, showing resilience when it mattered most. Now, as he eyes another Grand Slam title to add to his already impressive resume, the final test looms large, with defending champion Jannik Sinner waiting on the other side, and unlikely to give an inch.