Carlos Alcaraz continued his bid for a first title at Melbourne Park and a career Grand Slam with a dominant 7-5 6-2 6-1 victory over home favourite Alex de Minaur.
World No 1 Alcaraz charged into the semi-finals for the first time in his career with a superb straight-sets victory.
The Spaniard had fallen on both his previous visits to the last eight, including to Novak Djokovic 12 months ago, but the same outcome never looked likely here, with Alcaraz now two victories away from becoming the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.
“I’m just really happy with the way that I’m playing every match,” said Alcaraz. “I was increasing my level every match, which I’m really happy about. After the first match (my team) told me to be patient. Today I felt really comfortable playing great tennis.”
The 22-year-old swapped extravagance for efficiency at Rod Laver Arena to extinguish the hopes of De Minaur, who was aiming to end a five-decade Australian wait for a homegrown men’s champion at the tournament – since Mark Edmondson in 1976.
The intense heat of the day had subsided enough to allow the roof to be open – although it was still 39C at the start – and a swirling breeze at times affected both men.
But Alcaraz was simply better, particularly on serve, and De Minaur was unable to land any meaningful blows.
Six-time major winner Alcaraz broke De Minaur early to take a 3-0 lead, but his retooled serve came under scrutiny in the fifth game when he faced three break points.
De Minaur retrieved relentlessly and broke back to level, before recovering another break in the ninth game and delighting the centre court crowd by holding in the next, but some loose points allowed Alcaraz to edge a gripping opening set.
Alcaraz began the second set as he did the first and the top seed was in no mood to let the advantage slip this time, hitting two rasping backhand crosscourt winners to go ahead 5-2 and tighten his grip on the match.
A deflated De Minaur surrendered serve early in the third set and Alcaraz did not look back, wrapping up the victory and securing a clash with Zverev.
On facing Zverev again, Alcaraz said: “I’ve seen Sascha through the whole tournament and I know he’s playing great tennis. I have to be ready.
“We practised in the week before the tournament and he beat me 7-6 playing such great tennis. It’s going to be a great battle. I’m really looking forward to playing him again here and taking the revenge.”
Henman: How do you compete with Alcaraz and Sinner?
Alcaraz and Sinner are the dominant force and immovable object in men’s tennis
Six-time Grand Slam semi-finalist Tim Henman speaking on TNT Sports:
“This is the predicament for the other 126 people in the draw isn’t it? When they come up against Alcaraz and Sinner they have got to get so far out of their comfort zone.
“And they haven’t got to do it for a set, they have to do it for three sets to win it.
“That’s why it is so difficult, and why Alcaraz and Sinner have been in the last eight Grand Slam finals.
“You’d be a brave person to bet against them this fortnight.”
Zverev keep his cool to see off rising star Tien
Alexander Zverev remained on track for a return to the Australian Open final after beating American Learner Tien in four sets
Learner Tien showcased what makes him such an exciting talent in his first Grand Slam quarter-final before falling to third seed Zverev.
The 20-year-old American was bidding to become the youngest man to reach the last four in Melbourne for 34 years, but instead it was Zverev who moved through to a 10th slam semi-final after a 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 7-6 (7-3) victory.
“Learner from the baseline was playing unbelievable,” said an impressed Zverev. “I don’t think I’ve played anyone who plays that well from the baseline for a very long time.
“I don’t know what Michael Chang has done with him in the off-season, but it’s incredible. Without my 20 something aces, I probably would not have won today.”
Tien’s rise is rapid and accelerating and his crowd-pleasing game was a big hit with the crowd on Rod Laver Arena, who could enjoy the cool air conditioning after the roof was closed because of extreme heat.
The cut-off mark of five on the tournament’s heat stress scale was reached just before the players walked onto court, meaning the whole contest was played indoors.
That would have been welcome news for the players, too, with temperatures pushing into the mid 40s outside.
Zverev had the edge in the opening set but Tien, who is coached by former French Open champion Chang, hung with the German in the second.
Tien lacks the raw power of his opponent or the German’s potent serve, which ultimately made the difference, but he already has a tremendous feel for the geometry of the court, while his hand skills on drop shots and at the net repeatedly caught Zverev out.
He trailed 5-3 in the tie-break but a tight forehand from Zverev levelled matters and Tien then played arguably his two best points of the match.
What Tien lacks is experience, and he was unable to maintain his intensity in the third set, while Zverev saved a set point with a big serve at 5-6 in the fourth before dominating the tie-break.
The 28-year-old is through to the semi-finals here for the fourth time, the most by a German man, and he is now one win away from matching last year’s run to a third Grand Slam final.
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