(Video) Carlos Alcaraz Throws Up and Suffers Cramps During Australian Open Semifinals Against Alexander Zverev

Carlos Alcaraz dropped a set in the ongoing event Down Under for the first time.

(Video) Carlos Alcaraz Throws Up and Suffers Cramps During Australian Open Semifinals Against Alexander Zverev

Carlos Alcaraz (R) threw up twice during his match against Alexander Zverev (L) (Image via X/Univers Tennis, sluggahjells, Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

Carlos Alcaraz pulled up on his leg after leading 2-0 during his Australian Open semifinal match against Alexander Zverev on Friday (January 30). At 4-4 in the third set, Alcaraz suffered from a niggle, which Zverev thought was cramp.

Zverev asked chair umpire Marijana Veljovic to start the countdown clock, but the latter wanted to check if Alcaraz was alright. Play resumed after this brief stoppage, and although the six-time Grand Slam champion was able to hold his serve, he called for a medical timeout during which he received treatment on his right thigh and also drank pickle juice.

At 3-3 in the third set, Alcaraz was heard telling his team, “I’ve thrown up, I don’t know if I should take something.” He threw up twice into a towel.

Watch the video here:

Zverev said Alcaraz was simply cramping, and as per the rules of tennis, players cannot take a medical timeout for the same. The three-time Grand Slam finalist accused the tournament of “protecting” Alcaraz as well as Jannik Sinner.

Watch the video here:

Despite the injury scare, Alcaraz managed to pull off the victory in five hours and 27 minutes- the longest semifinal match in the history of the Australian Open. Alcaraz needs just one match win to complete the Career Grand Slam and become the youngest man in the Open Era to do so, and will surpass idol, Rafael Nadal, who achieved this at 24 after winning the 2010 US Open.

Carlos Alcaraz put his heart into the semifinal against Alexander Zverev

Carlos Alcaraz has often managed to emerge victorious despite being on the brink of an upset in Grand Slam events. The tennis world can very well remember the epic Roland Garros final between him and Jannik Sinner, where the World No.1 came from two sets down and saved three championship points to defend his title.

Carlos Alcaraz (2)
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

When momentum shifted toward Alexander Zverev after his wins in the third and fourth sets, as well as his lead in the fifth set, Alcaraz produced his best tennis when he needed it the most, winning five games in a row to stun Zverev 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 as well as the crowd on Rod Laver Arena to reach his career’s first Australian Open final.

Believing, all the time. I always say you have to believe in yourself, no matter if you are struggling or what you have been through. No matter about anything, you still have to believe in yourself all the time. I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically, it was one of the most demanding matches that I have played in my short career.

Carlos Alcaraz told Jim Courier during the on-court interview

Before this season, Alcaraz’s best run at Melbourne Park was two quarterfinal appearances- in 2024 (lost to Zverev) and last year (lost to Novak Djokovic).

I have been in these kinds of situations, and I knew what I had to do. I had to put my heart into the match. I think I did it, and I fought until the last ball. I knew I was going to have my chances. I am extremely proud of myself for the way that I fought and came back in the fifth set.

Carlos Alcaraz added

But to script history, Alcaraz will have to go past either Sinner or Djokovic. The Fox and the Djoker will be clashing for the 11th time on the tour. Sinner holds a 6-4 head-to-head lead over the 38-year-old, who hasn’t won a set since defeating Botic van de Zandschulp in the third round. His fourth-round opponent, Jakub Mensik, withdrew from the match, and in the quarterfinals, Lorenzo Musetti handed him the walkover after winning the first two sets.

Also read: Elena Rybakina Makes Honest Admission on Controversial Coach Stefano Vukov After Reaching Australian Open Final