Ex-ATP Pro Thinks Carlos Alcaraz ‘Shouldn’t Have Been’ in Australian Open Final

Carlos Alcaraz beat Alexander Zverev in the semifinals and Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open.

Ex-ATP Pro Thinks Carlos Alcaraz ‘Shouldn’t Have Been’ in Australian Open Final

Carlos Alcaraz (Image via ATP/X)

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Carlos Alcaraz made his career’s first Australian Open final after playing the longest semifinal in the history of the tournament. After progressing to the semifinal for the first time in his career, the Spaniard knocked out last year’s runner-up Alexander Zverev in five sets in five hours and 27 minutes.

Then, in the final, Alcaraz registered his second consecutive win over Novak Djokovic and his overall fifth in their 10th meeting, becoming the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam. But Alcaraz, who is also the youngest man to win seven Grand Slam titles, shouldn’t have been in the final, according to former ATP player Claudio Pistolesi.

In my opinion, you have to look at both semi-finals, not only Jannik Sinner’s against Novak Djokovic, but also Carlos Alcaraz’s against Alexander Zverev. Zverev was serving for the match and, instead of calmly going up 15-0, 30-0, he started getting frustrated. That’s when he lost the match. Otherwise, it would have been over. With a bit more composure, which Zverev has never shown when it really matters at this level, even this time, the match was his. Alcaraz shouldn’t even have been in the final.

Claudio Pistolesi told Fan Page

Alcaraz suffered cramps in the middle of the semifinal and even took a medical timeout, due to which Zverev accused the tournament of “protecting” both Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Officials, using the Heat Stress Scale, closed the roof of Rod Laver Arena after the Italian began limping from cramps during his third-round match against Eliot Spizzirri.

Alcaraz broke the head-to-head tie with Zverev to take a 7-6 lead. Zverev, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, lost to Sinner in last year’s Australian Open final. Alcaraz made his fourth consecutive Grand Slam final, just as he did last year.

He lost to Sinner at Wimbledon and won the French Open and the US Open by defeating the four-time Grand Slam champion. It was Zverev and Djokovic who defeated Alcaraz in the two quarterfinals he made at the Melbourne Slam in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Carlos Alcaraz on whether he’s already a part of the Big 3

If Carlos Alcaraz continues to win Grand Slam titles at this rate consistently, then he can break Novak Djokovic’s 24 title record. But Alcaraz, even though he wants to see himself sit on the same table as Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer, doesn’t think he has done enough to be compared to the Big 3 of tennis.

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

No, no, I’m not even close. I’ll only be able to say I’m at the same level as them if I have a 20 or 22-year career and win the top titles season after season. That’s what I work for. I’m breaking some very nice records, but what these three achieved is practically impossible. You have to work to get as close as possible or even catch them. But to say I’m at the same level, there are many years ahead.

Carlos Alcaraz told Marca

Alcaraz broke Nadal’s record by completing the Career Grand Slam, as the latter achieved it at the age of 24. The Big 3 have won a combined 66 Grand Slam titles. Djokovic, since winning his 24th Major at the 2023 US Open, has made two Grand Slam finals: at the 2024 Wimbledon and this year’s Australian Open, losing both to Alcaraz.

Djokovic does not know what will happen in the future, but he still wants to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The last time Djokovic lifted a Big Title was at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he defeated Alcaraz to win his career’s first gold medal.

Also read: Former World No.1 Believes Alexander Zverev Missed an “Opportunity” at the 2026 Australian Open