World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz surged into the semifinal of the 2026 Australian Open for the first time in his career with a commanding win over Australian favourite Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday. Alcaraz dominated the local hope 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 to seal his place in the last four in Melbourne, delivering a performance that underlined his status as the man to beat in this year’s tournament.
Alcaraz, the top seed and reigning world No. 1, has long pursued deeper runs at the season’s first Grand Slam, and he did so emphatically on Tuesday with a display that combined power, precision and tactical maturity. After a competitive opening set that saw both players trade high-intensity rallies, Alcaraz seized key moments to pull ahead and never relinquished control in the subsequent sets.
Reflecting afterwards on his performance, Alcaraz said: “I’m just really happy with the level that I’m playing every match. We spoke about being patient with my game and today I felt comfortable and confident with how I executed.”
A Statement Victory
The victory not only marks Alcaraz’s maiden Australian Open semifinal but also extends his unbeaten start to 2026, reinforcing his bid for a career Grand Slam — a milestone that would see him become the youngest man in the Open Era to achieve the feat if he can convert this opportunity into the title.
Statistically, Alcaraz imposed his authority throughout the contest: he outpaced de Minaur in winners and crucial break points, and held his nerve in pressure moments that defined the match’s momentum.
De Minaur’s Brave Showing
For de Minaur, the loss extends his run of tough quarterfinal exits at Grand Slams, but his performance in front of a passionate home crowd offered moments of high-quality tennis — particularly in the early stages — before Alcaraz’s relentless pressure told.
Alcaraz spoke respectfully of his opponent after the match: “Playing against someone like Alex is always really difficult. You have to be focused on every ball and win the point more than once.”
Next Challenge: Zverev Rematch
In the semifinals, Alcaraz will face Alexander Zverev, the third seed and last year’s finalist, setting up a rematch of their 2024 quarterfinal clash — a contest Zverev won. With his confidence high and form sharp, Alcaraz enters that challenge with momentum and belief that Melbourne’s crown could finally be within reach.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on whether Alcaraz can convert this breakthrough into historic success at the Australian Open — a narrative that now grips fans and pundits alike in Melbourne Park and beyond.
Discussion about this post