AO 2026 – men's semi-finals: What to expect?

Carlos Alcaraz (No.1) – Alexander Zverev (No.3)

💪 The context / The current form

The 2026 edition is Career Grand Slam chasing Carlos Alcaraz’s finest showing to date Down Under.

The smiling assassin is bidding to become the 12th man in the Open Era to reach the final at all four Grand Slams. At 22-years-old, he’s already a modern-day legend of the sport.

The world No.1 relishes these moments, will want to put on a show in the pursuit of more era-defining glory.

No.3 seed Alexander Zverev knows the Alcaraz game well, knows very well how to navigate into a Grand Slam final. However, three major final defeats continue to cut deep for the German. Will it be a different tale in 2026?

🏆 Their 2026 tournament

Of the four gladiators into the semi-finals, Alcaraz is the only man yet to drop a set yet. The human highlight reel hot shots have been sprinkled in, he’s had the crowd on their feet on multiple occasions, the Spaniard has been in full flight.

If you need any evidence, check out the first three games to lead Alex de Minaur 3-0. It was flawless, majestic, the superlatives ran out in minutes.

• 1st round: victory against Adam Walton 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-2 (2hrs 5mins)
• 2nd round: victory against Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2 (2hrs 45mins)
• 3rd round: victory against Corentin Moutet 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 (2hrs 5mins)
• Round of 16: victory against Tommy Paul 7-6(6), 6-4, 7-5 (2hrs 44mins)
• Quarter-finals: victory against Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 (2hrs 15mins)

Zverev has certainly been examined by his opponents at Melbourne Park. His cannonball serve has benefited his cause when backed into a corner. On the other hand, last year’s finalist hasn’t been dragged into prolonged wrestles, Zverev appears to be in fine fettle and will have plenty in the tank to go at Alcaraz with full force.

• 1st round: victory against Gabriel Diallo 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 (2hrs 43mins)
• 2nd round: victory against Alexandre Müller 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 (3hrs 4mins)
• 3rd round: victory against Cameron Norrie 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 (2hrs 46mins)
• Round of 16: victory against Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 (2hrs 12mins)
• Quarter-finals: victory against Learner Tien 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(3) (3hrs 10mins)

🆚 Face-to-face

This is a finely-poised rivalry. Alcaraz and Zverev meet for a 13th time on Friday and the fifth time at a Grand Slam.

The victor will move ahead as the head-to-head is currently 6-6, equal at 2-2 in the major arena.

In terms of the Australian Open, Zverev prevailed in their 2024 quarter-final clash 6-1, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-4. Since then, Alcaraz has catapulted to a different planet of tennis and stated during his last on-court interview he’s out for revenge. Clearly, that loss lives long in the Alcaraz memory bank.

🎤 Heard in media

Carlos Alcaraz: “The week before we got a practice with him, which the level was really, really high. It was 7-6 (to Zverev). Probably one hour, 30. So it was a high level of tennis, high level of intensity.

“I've watched his matches through the tournament, which it was impressive the level he's been playing so far, so it's going to be a great battle.

“I will be ready, for sure. I'm excited about playing him here in AO in a semi-final. I know what I have to do. I will be well-prepared for that match, and if he wants to beat me, he has to sweat a lot.”

Alexander Zverev: “Whoever I'm going to play in the semis, Carlos or Alex, they're great players. You are just looking forward to a fantastic match.

“Of course, in my case, I'm still chasing that desired Slam. I still want to achieve that, but I also want to enjoy my tennis. Right now, I'm doing that, and that's the most important thing for me.”

Jannik Sinner (No.2) vs Novak Djokovic (No.4)

💪 The context / The current form 

Respect is the name of the game here.

Novak Djokovic is fully aware of how Sinner, alongside Alcaraz, keeps elevating the sport. Sinner is aiming to become the third man in the Open Era to reach six successive Grand Slam singles finals, after Roger Federer and his opponent, Djokovic.

Remember, Sinner is the two-time reigning champion. On the other side of the coin, 38-year-old Djokovic has held aloft the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup 10 times at Melbourne Park.

Djokovic, having featured in 37 major finals, is seeking a 38th, but will have to overturn defeats in his past four Grand Slam semi-finals. Can his body hold up?

Back to respect, Sinner knows to never count out Novak.

🏆 Their 2026 tournament

The world No.2 was in all sorts of trouble in the third round, cramping in the scorching heat a set and a break down to Elliot Spizzirri.

Across seven matches at a major, the champion will more often than not have to ride some luck. The 24-year-old’s dismantling of Ben Shelton points to a player heading towards top gear.

• 1st round: victory against Hugo Gaston 6-2, 6-1, ret. (1hr 8mins)
• 2nd round: victory against James Duckworth 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 (1h49mins)
• 3rd round: victory against Eliot Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 (3hrs 45mins)
• Round of 16: victory against Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(2) (2hrs 9mins)
• Quarter-finals: victory against Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 (2hrs 23mins)

Djokovic has also been offered up his fair share of luck this fortnight. His last two opponents have exited through injury.

Two sets down to a Lorenzo Musetti masterclass, the all-time great admits he was on course to fly home.

Well, the Serbian will be fresh for this titanic battle and knows he has several levels to click through to reach his all-conquering peak.

• 1st round: victory against Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 (2hrs)
• 2nd round: victory against Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 (2hrs 15mins)
• 3rd round: victory against Botic Van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) (2hrs 44mins)
• Round of 16: victory against Jakub Mensik (W/O)
• Quarter-finals: victory against Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 3-6, 3-1 ret. (2hrs 8mins)

🆚 Face-to-face

In the past couple of years this rivalry has been all about the Italian. Sinner is boosted by winning the pair’s past five meetings to move 6-4 up in the head-to-head. Nobody has ever won six matches in a row across the net from Djokovic…

At this stage of AO 2024, the world No.2 kept Djokovic at bay 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3 en route to glory.

🎤 Heard in media

Jannik Sinner: “It's very difficult, Djokovic in a Slam.

“It’s great to have Novak, playing still very, very high level. It's Grand Slam, it's always very difficult against Novak. It's one of the toughest challenges we have in our sport.

“Obviously, he has a huge package of experience. You see him on the court, he knows how to handle every situation the best possible way.

“Me, as a 24-year-old, I'm lucky to have someone like him in front of my eyes, and I can hopefully learn something. I feel like every day, every time he plays, I can learn something about him, about Carlos, about all the other great, great players.

“I take this as a positive. He's an inspiration for all of us and especially the young players.”

Novak Djokovic: “If I play Jannik, absolute favourite, but you never know. Hopefully I can deliver my A-game for that matchup, because that's what's going to be needed at least to have a chance.

“I don't feel like I'm chasing (Sinner and Alcaraz), I'm creating my own history… Slams are one of the biggest reasons why I keep on competing and playing tennis.

“Are they better right now than me and all the other guys? Yes, they are. The quality and the level is amazing. It's great. It's phenomenal.

“But does that mean that I walk out with a white flag? No. I'm going to fight until the last shot, until the last point, and do my very best to challenge them.”