Alcaraz has produced some astonishing comebacks at Slams – none more than when he saved three championship points before going on to beat Sinner in last year’s French Open final.
But this win, given his physical condition, will be just as pleasing.
Alcaraz stood at the back of court, telling himself “little by little, Charly, vamos” as he tried to find some energy late in the fourth set.
Even before he began cramping, Alcaraz was the braver player. He took control of the rallies, going for the big shots – and finishing the match with 78 winners to Zverev’s 56 showed how his ‘big-time’ tennis paid off.
Zverev played at a high level, but was not ruthless enough when it mattered.
Alcaraz could barely run at the end of the third set, but Zverev sprayed errors off the weakened serve and rarely tested him at the net.
Twice Zverev had 0-30 on the Spaniard’s serve to force a fifth set. Twice Alcaraz, urged on by the crowd, held, and then served to love to send the fourth set to a tie-break.
However, Zverev took advantage of Alcaraz’s faltering serve in the tie-break and again in the first game of the fifth set to go an immediate break up.
But the German has crumbled in key moments before and his break lead never felt safe.
Buoyed by the crowd, Alcaraz broke to get the match back on serve and then capitalised on Zverev’s nerves as the German served at 6-5 down to try to force a 10-point tie-break but was left to contemplate another devastating loss.
“I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what,” said Alcaraz.
“I couldn’t be here right now without these guys [the crowd]. The way you pushed me back into the match on every point is crazy.”
