(Video) Carlos Alcaraz Shows Incredible Sportsmanship by Defending Alex de Minaur’s Time Violation Claims During Australian Open Clash

Carlos Alcaraz breezed past Alex de Minaur to set up a blockbuster semifinal clash with Alexander Zverev.

(Video) Carlos Alcaraz Shows Incredible Sportsmanship by Defending Alex de Minaur’s Time Violation Claims During Australian Open Clash

Carlos Alcaraz (R) confronted the chair umpire for giving the time violation to Alex de Minaur (L) (Image via X/#AusOpen, Carlos Alcaraz 4K, TNT Sports)

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Alex de Minaur, despite the home crowd’s support, couldn’t trouble first seed Carlos Alcaraz much during the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, held on Tuesday (January 27). The Spaniard, who secured a comprehensive 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory, will be playing the semifinals of the Major Down Under for the first time in his career.

Apart from Alcaraz’s performance, another incident made headlines. The World No.1, who won the 2025 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award, once again displayed incredible sportsmanship by confronting the chair umpire.

During the first set, as de Minaur was preparing to serve, the umpire gave him a time violation. The 26-year-old looked annoyed at this decision, and so was the crowd, as boos rang around Rod Laver Arena.

Even Alcaraz did not want the umpire to hand his opponent the time violation. He approached the umpire to admit that he wasn’t ready. “I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t there,” said Alcaraz.

Watch the video here:

It was de Minaur’s second back-to-back quarterfinal appearance at Melbourne Park. The Aussie, who has so far made seven Grand Slam quarterfinals, has yet to progress to the last four.

Before this season, Alcaraz made two quarterfinals in Melbourne: he lost to Alexander Zverev in 2024 and to Novak Djokovic in 2025. If Alcaraz wins the tournament, he will become the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam, surpassing his idol, Rafael Nadal, who achieved this feat at 24 after winning the 2010 US Open.

The 22-year-old has won each of the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open twice. Last year, he defeated Jannik Sinner in the finals of Roland Garros and the US Open but failed to complete the three-peat at Wimbledon. Alcaraz has also advanced to his 10th Grand Slam semifinal. The six-time Grand Slam champion is yet to drop a set.

Carlos Alcaraz maintains a perfect head-to-head record over Alex de Minaur

Carlos Alcaraz has improved his head-to-head record over Alex de Minaur to 6-0. Prior to this match, they met in the round robin stage of last year’s ATP Finals. Following the win, Alcaraz analyzed his performance during the on-court interview.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (via the US Open)

It’s really difficult. I started the match really, really well, hitting the ball really well. I think in just two games I made like seven or eight winners. It was a great level. With Alex, you are always in a rush. So you want to hit the ball as hard as you can every ball, which is impossible against him.

Carlos Alcaraz said

But next, he will be up against someone against whom he is 6-6 in the head-to-head meetings. It’s third seed Alexander Zverev, also last year’s runner-up in Melbourne.

From 3-0 to 4-3, 4-4…I just wanted everything in a rush. I took a moment, took a break, mentally I was always there. And I was more patient from 4-4 to the end of the match, which was great for me. Playing against someone like Alex is always really difficult. You have to be really focused on every ball. You have to win the point almost three or four times.

Carlos Alcaraz added

Zverev downed 2025 Next-Gen ATP Finals champion Learner Tien, who conquered Daniil Medvedev once again in the first Major of the season. Although Zverev won their previous meeting in Melbourne, he lost when they clashed last year, in the semifinal of the Cincinnati Masters.

In the other two quarterfinals, scheduled to be held on January 28, two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner will lock horns with Ben Shelton, and 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will face Lorenzo Musetti.

Also read: (Video) Jelena Ostapenko Furiously Hits the Ball at her Australian Open Opponent in a Tense Moment