The semifinal between Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz at the 2026 Australian Open was a truly remarkable match.

Alcaraz edged out Zverev 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5 in five hours and 27 minutes. It was the longest semi-final ever played at Melbourne Park.

The Spaniard had suffered from cramps in the third set and Zverev fought back to force a fifth set and even took a break in the decider.

But it was Alcaraz who held his nerve when it mattered most, coming through to secure his place in his first Australian Open final.

The world number one has also shattered an all-time record with this victory, a feat previously held by his main competitor, Jannik Sinner.

Carlos Alcaraz becomes the youngest player to achieve four consecutive Grand Slam finals

As noted by Opta Ace, Alcaraz is now the youngest player in the Open Era to appear in four straight men’s singles Grand Slam finals, a milestone reached at 22 years and 258 days old.

He surpassed Sinner’s previous mark, set when the Italian was 23 years and 318 days old during Wimbledon last year.

The run began at Roland Garros, where Alcaraz defeated Sinner to win his fifth major title.

Since then, he has finished as runner-up at Wimbledon before capturing a sixth major crown at the US Open.

And now, with this latest appearance at Melbourne Park, he has taken yet another significant step forward to become the youngest player ever to complete the Career Grand Slam.

What a win in the final would mean for Carlos Alcaraz’s Grand Slam record

If Alcaraz comes out on top in the Australian Open final, he will join a group of players who have reached seven Grand Slam titles.

Eight players have won exactly seven majors, with five of them doing so before the Open Era.

Richard Sears, William Renshaw, William Larned, Rene Lacoste and Henri Cochet all reached that number before 1968.

John Newcombe secured two of his seven crowns in the Amateur Era, while John McEnroe and Mats Wilander earned their seven exclusively in the Open Era.

If Alcaraz wins on Sunday, he will match all eight players before turning 23 years old.