A weary Alexander Zverev described the decision to allow a medical timeout for a cramping Carlos Alcaraz in their epic Australian Open semi-final as “bullshit”, but did not want the matter to take the focus off the quality of their memorable encounter.
The German failed to capitalise on breaks in the second and fifth sets, as the world No 1 rallied from his physical ailments to win 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4) 7-5 in five hours and 27 minutes.
Tournament rules allow medical timeouts for injuries but not muscle cramps. However, the decision is left to the attending physio and doctor.
Alcaraz clutched at the inside of his right groin late in the third set and was moving gingerly – indicating either cramp or a more severe injury – and was allowed a medical timeout after seeking attention from the physio.
Zverev, the world No 3, was incensed in the moment and swore at an official as the Spaniard took on fluids, an indication he was trying to alleviate cramp. “He was cramping, so normally you can’t take a medical timeout for cramping,” Zverev said. “I just said it was bullshit, basically.”
Allowing Alcaraz a medical timeout limited how much time he would have to spend on court at the peak of his physical suffering, and the extended massage provided by the physio assisted his mobility. “What can I do? It’s not my decision,” Zverev said. “I didn’t like it, but it’s not my decision.”
Alcaraz overcame the ailment and finished the stronger of the two players in the riveting match. Given its quality, Zverev said he would prefer not to dwell on the medical timeout. “To be honest, I don’t want to talk about this right now, because I think this is one of the best battles there ever was in Australia,” he said. “It doesn’t deserve to be the topic now.”
Instead, he expressed regret for not taking his chances in the second set, after he gave up a break when serving to level the match. “I don’t have many regrets in the fifth set, because I was hanging on for dear life, to be honest. I was exhausted,” he said. “But the second set … I think [if I had gone] up, being one set all, and him starting to cramp in the third set, that probably would have made a difference.”
When Alcaraz was asked whether he was injured for the timeout, he equivocated. “Well, I feel tired,” he said. “You know, obviously my body could be better, to be honest, but I think that’s normal after five hours and a half.”
Asked on court after victory how he had battled his way through, Alcaraz replied: “Believing all the time. I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what you’re struggling, no matter anything. I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically it was one of the most demanding matches that I have ever played in my short career."
“But I’ve been in these kind of situations, in these kind matches so I knew what I had to do. I had to put my heart into the match. I did it, I fought until the last ball. Extremely proud about myself, about the way that I fought and came back during the fifth set. I’m just really happy to have the chance to play my first final in Melbourne. It was something I was chasing a lot.”
