After the five-set marathon, the Spaniard responds to the German’s controversy: “I did everything by the rules. It was one of the most challenging matches of my career.”
Tired but delighted Carlos Alcaraz, at the end of his semifinal battle with Alexander Zverev, won in five sets to reach his first Australian Open final. But how is the world number one after his injury on court? The Spaniard recounted what happened and claimed that the medical intervention was completely above board.
“It was a very tough match. At the beginning, I felt something after turning around for a forehand: discomfort in my right adductor,” said the six-time Grand Slam winner. “I didn’t think it was cramps because the rest of my legs felt fine. I called the physiotherapist to understand what was happening. He was the one who decided on the medical timeout. Then I received some treatment during the changeovers, I checked my left leg and it was fine, not at its best but it was okay. I did all this in accordance with the rules.“ The pain, he added, ”started a little earlier and then increased in the following games.“
”My muscles are tense…”— Alcaraz is open about his condition ahead of the final: “Obviously, I’m tired. My body could be better, but that’s normal after five and a half hours at that level,” he said. “I did everything necessary to recover: ice bath, compression. Now I’ll have treatment with the physiotherapist and we’ll see. I hope it’s nothing serious, but after a match like that, my muscles are tense: I just have to do everything I can to be at my best for the final.” A five-and-a-half-hour marathon at the Australian Open, he called his comeback “one of the most challenging matches” of his career, to the point of placing it at the top of his greatest victories. “Physically, we pushed ourselves to the limit today. The level of the fifth set was really, really high. I’m delighted to have won and to be back. I rank this match as the best I’ve ever won,“ said the Spaniard.
”Retire? I never thought about it.” He also clarified the controversial episode at the start of the fourth set, when the cameras caught him appearing to want to shake Zverev’s hand. “There wasn’t a single second when I thought about retiring,” Alcaraz assured. “I saw the video and the comments, but it was just a matter of who should go first. That’s all.” The Murcia native explained where his unwavering conviction in the most difficult moments comes from. “I hate giving up. When I was younger, I would stop fighting in some matches. With maturity, I realized that I hate that feeling. Every extra step, every extra second of suffering, every extra second of struggle is always worth it. That’s why I fight until the last ball and always believe I can recover in any situation.”
