Key events
Tomorrow, then. The day session opens with Rybakina v Swiatek, which should be an absolute belter; following it, Pegula and Anisimova isn’t bad either; and then it’ll be time to see if Djokovic is still good enough to beat everyone but the top two, when he faces off with Musetti. Then, in the evening, you can join me for Shelton v Sinner – I’m looking forward to it already because, though we think we know what’ll happen, Shelton played beautifully in seeing off Ruud, so you never know.
After losing to Musetti in Turin, De Minaur was disconsolate and I imagine he’s feeling similarly now.
When Murray lost to Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon final, he had to process the possibility of never winning a major, and I imagine that’s where Demon is now. As it turned out, Murray then went to take Olympic gold and the US Open, but he had weapons De Minaur does not.
It’s easy for us to say that validation comes from within, not without, and being the sixth-best tenniser in the world is a pretty decent effort. But when you devote your life to fulfilling a dream, reckon you’ve a chance of achieving it, then discover it’s beyond you – but you keep flogging yourself anyway, just in case – it’s understandable that your feelings get big on you.
Alcaraz is really happy with the way he’s playing every match, from the start of the tournament until now, the level increasing as he moves through the tournament – after round one, his team told him to be patient and it’d come. He felt really comfortable today, playing great tennis and he’s very proud of that, as well as happy to reach the semis.
He started the match really well, hitting the ball really well and landing seven or eight winners in the first two games, but against De Minaur, you’re always in a rush so you want to hit the ball as hard as you can every shot, which is impossible. So he took a moment, took a break, mentally he was always there and he was more patient from then til the end of the match – against De Minaur you have to win the point three or four times.
Asked about his team – there are a few of them – he says they make jokes in the locker room, and some people say you can’t play football before your match, but the people around him make him feel like he’s at home. It’s been great so far and he feels proud to see his dad in the crowd. This experience was his dream when he was playing tennis, so them living it now makes him very proud.
He’ll need to up his level for the semi as he’s seen Zverev is playing great, aggressive tennis and serving well. He has to be ready as they practised before the competition and he lost 7-6. He and his team have to come up with a good tactical plan, it’ll be a great battle and he’s looking forward to taking revenge for his 2024 defeat. In the meantime, he may hit some balls but golf is always there and he’ll try to make the most of his time over the next two days.
Finally, asked to show off his various racket-spinning tricks, he goes to get one, says he’s nervous now, ands of course pulls off three perfectly. If there’s a person in the world more comfortable in their own skin, I’ve yet to witness them.
Alcaraz has now reached the semis of all four majors, but he’s chasing a better landmark: he has one hit at becoming the youngest man to complete a career grand slam. The current record holder, Don Budge, was 22 years and 11 months old when he won the French Open in 1938.
Carlos Alcaraz (1) beats Alex de Minaur (6) 7-5 6-2 6-1
Third set: Alcaraz 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 De Minaur* (*next server)
De Minaur makes 0-15, but a backhand slice falls long to restore parity and it’s soon 30-15, a long return offers up two match points, and after a brilliant and tight first set, this match is hurtling to a conclusion, and ace out wide emphasising Alcaraz’s mortifying superiority. Next for him: Alexander Zverev.
Third set: Alcaraz* 7-5, 6-2, 5-1 De Minaur (*next server)
Before the match, Mark Woodforde said he felt the contest was 55-45 in Alcaraz’s favour and though it’s possible he knows more about tennis that I do, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. In terms of the balance of play, 55-45 felt possible, but that’s very different as far as outcomes go, which I’d have put around 95-5. Demon is a fantastic player, but without a definitive weapon, so it’s almost impossible for him to beat higher-ranked players over five sets at the slams. And, as I type, he finds himself down 15-40 … but one thing he doesn’t lack is bottle, securing deuce with a service winner … only for Alcaraz to caress a backhand drop that makes a nonsense of De Minaur’s legendary speed. and, well, oh dear: a forehand falls long, Alcaraz breaks, and will now serve for the match.
Third set: Alcaraz 7-5, 6-2, 4-1 De Minaur* (*next server)
Thanks Katy. A while ago, I recall Roddick losing to Federer and saying in his post match interview that he’d played as well as he could, so what could he say. Demon is there now: unfortunately, he’s reached the outer limits of his athletic and technical potential, only to find there are bigger and better lads still exploring the dfull extent of theirs. Alcaraz holds to love, and this is nearly did.
Third set: Alcaraz* 7-5, 6-2, 3-1 De Minaur (*next server)
De Minaur’s squeaky shoes are still scurrying around the baseline despite his predicament but Alcaraz is in no mood to let this rally go on any further and he sprints forward to settle matters at the net. 15-all. 15-30. Alcaraz unleashes an absolute rocket of a forehand but misses and sees the funny side; such is his advantage in this quarter-final he can afford to chuckle. De Minaur can’t serve it out at 40-30, but has another chance at his advantage … and he puts away a simple volley. At least he gets on the board in this set but he appears not long for in this match. And I’m definitely done, because Daniel is here to take you through the rest. Bye!
Third set: Alcaraz 7-5, 6-2, 3-0 De Minaur* (*next server)
But Alcaraz, knowing the finish line is so close, loses focus. 0-30 becomes 30-40. De Minaur rouses himself with his loudest “C’MON” in some time. But then misses the baseline by about a millimetre on the break point! He’s shrugging … and shouting again when Alcaraz comes through after two deuces and a 17-shot baseline duel on game point!
Alcaraz breaks: Alcaraz* 7-5, 6-2, 2-0 De Minaur (*next server)
More danger for De Minaur at 0-30, and then 15-40. Alcaraz is all over the second serve. De Minaur does land a first serve on the first break point but then throws in a forehand error. He takes a ball from his pocket and smacks it into the court. This is most likely the beginning of the end and he knows it.
Third set: Alcaraz 7-5, 6-2, 1-0 De Minaur* (*next server)
De Minaur came into this quarter-final looking to banish the narrative that big hitters are his kryptonite, but now two sets down, and with a 0-5 record against Alcaraz, it’s almost impossible to see a way back for the Australian No 1. He said he felt as if he’d been “slapped across the face” after his defeat by Jannik Sinner at this stage last year, when he won only six games, and despite his strong start tonight, he may not win many more games than that now. And Alcaraz sends his opponent another reminder of his supremacy – not that De Minaur needed it – by opening the third set with a love hold.
Alcaraz wins the second set to lead 7-5, 6-2
At 0-15, De Minaur shows why he’s one of the quickest movers in tennis as he chases down the drop shot and dispatches the winner. But just as quickly it’s 15-30 when Alcaraz attacks the second serve and moves forward. And then 30-40 when De Minaur prods a forehand into the net. The crowd fall silent. Here’s a set point for Alcaraz. This time De Minaur finds a first serve … and punches away Alcaraz’s return! Deuce. Advantage Alcaraz, a second set point. A half-hearted “come on Alex” or two from the crowd, but it’s in vain hope rather than belief. Alcaraz somehow gets two backhands back into play despite being pinned deep in the corner, and De Minaur, not knowing what else he can do to hit through his opponent, nets.
Second set: Alcaraz 7-5, 5-2 De Minaur* (*next server)
Again, De Minaur perhaps hears the feedback, because he’s got a break point at 30-40. But it comes and goes, and then Alcaraz flicks the switch, going from 5/10 to 10/10 with a ferocious forehand winner. Advantage Alcaraz. Game Alcaraz. Having been all energy and fight in the first set, De Minaur’s body language right now suggests he’s not sure he can get back into this. And he must hold serve to stay in the second set.
Second set: Alcaraz* 7-5, 4-2 De Minaur (*next server)
“He hasn’t played his best but he hasn’t necessarily been able to play his best,” says Tim Henman on the commentary. “When you look at his record against Alcaraz and Sinner, the best two players of his generation, it’s 0-18. He’s not serving big and consistently enough.” Maybe De Minaur hears Tim’s criticism, because suddenly here’s a hold to love, his first of the match I believe. For me, I think De Minaur as good as he could at times in that opening set, which was in the balance, but he’s going to have to up things considerably if he’s to break Alcaraz in this set.
Second set: Alcaraz 7-5, 4-1 De Minaur* (*next server)
De Minaur sends the 15,000-strong crowd into raptures when he wins a game of cat and mouse at 40-15 on Alcaraz’s serve. Even Alcaraz is smiling. But the Spaniard’s got his game face on again as he serves the game out on the next point.
Want to read Tumaini’s report on Svitolina’s dismantling of Gauff? Sure you do:
Coco Gauff is known across her sport for her mental toughness and problem solving abilities, her tendency to grind out victories from unenviable positions. However, down 1-6, 0-3, 0-30 on Tuesday night and sinking quickly, the 21-year-old has rarely looked as helpless on a tennis court as when she expressed her despair to her support team: “She’s outdoing me in everything,” she said.
This time, there was no way back for the third seed as Elina Svitolina ended a courageous, focused performance by securing the most significant result of the Australian Open so far, completely dismantling Gauff 6-1, 6-2 to reach her first semi-final.
Svitolina, the 12th seed, will next face one of the toughest challenges in the sport today in Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1 and two-time Australian Open champion. Earlier on Tuesday, Sabalenka dismantled the 29th seed Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 to reach her fourth consecutive semi-final in Melbourne.
A former No 3, Svitolina is one of the most accomplished players of her generation and the 31-year-old has now reached four major semi-finals from 14 quarter-finals. This victory is particularly special, however, as it means she will return to the top 10 for the first time since returning to competition in 2023 after giving birth to her daughter, Skai. Svitolina has started the 2026 season supremely well, winning the Auckland Open and 10 matches in a row. This is her second consecutive top 10 win after defeating No 7 Mirra Andreeva in the previous round and she still has not dropped a set.
“After maternity leave, it was my dream to come back into the top 10,” she said. “Always been my goal. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen last year, I stopped after September [due to injury] and then when we were training in the off-season, I told my coach: ‘I want to come back to top 10 this year,’ so this was my goal this year.”
This was an excruciating performance from Gauff, who struggled badly from the first game. After her defeat, Gauff walked off the court and destroyed her racket, smashing it more than five times on the floor in the tunnel that connects Rod Laver Arena to the stadium.
You can read the rest here:
Second set: Alcaraz* 7-5, 3-1 De Minaur (*next server)
Remarkably, given that Alcaraz will become the youngest man in history, at the age of 22, to complete a career slam if he wins the title this week, he hasn’t advanced beyond the quarter-finals in his previous four Australian Open appearances. For De Minaur the story is well-told: six previous grand slam quarter-final appearances and six previous defeats, with only one set won. That script looks increasingly unlikely to change as De Minaur hits into the tramlines to slide break point down at 30-40. De Minaur gamely saves it … and then is all over the world No 1 in a big-hitting rally! From 30-40 it’s De Minaur’s advantage. And then game.
Second set: Alcaraz 7-5, 3-0 De Minaur* (*next server)
De Minaur licks his wounds once again before working his way to a 0-30 opportunity on Alcaraz’s serve. He tries to pull the trigger for three break-back points … but misfires. So it’s 15-30. Which turns into 40-30. De Minaur nets and Alcaraz is now tearing through the games; that’s his fifth in a row as he backs up the break.
Alcaraz breaks: Alcaraz* 7-5, 2-0 De Minaur (*next server)
For all of De Minaur’s aggressive hitting in that first set, he landed only 50% of his first serves, which left him on the back foot in many of the points off his second serve. He’ll need to up that percentage in this set. Right on cue, a De Minaur ace, remarkably his first of the evening, moves him to 40-30. But Alcaraz, as Alcaraz does, comes back at him, and is drawing gasps from the crowd as he turns into an octopus at the net. And soon enough Alcaraz has break point. Alcaraz lets De Minaur off the hook. But here’s a second BP. The pair engage in a cross-court backhand face-off, but Alcaraz’s backhand >>>> De Minaur’s backhand, and the Spaniard strikes first in the second set.
Second set: Alcaraz 7-5, 1-0 De Minaur* (*next server)
That set is only the second De Minaur has lost this fortnight, having come from a set down in the second round, before his commanding straight-sets demolitions of Frances Tiafoe in the third round and Alexander Bublik in the fourth. For Alcaraz it’s his 13th set on the spin having come through all his matches in straight sets. And Alcaraz get the second-set scoreboard moving here with a hold to 30.
Alcaraz wins the first set 7-5
De Minaur, perhaps distracted after getting a time warning for taking too long to start the game despite Alcaraz admitting he wasn’t ready, blinks at the worst possible moment with two fairly tame errors. It’s 0-30. And 0-40 when Alcaraz jumps on the return and De Minaur can’t respond. Three set points. Alcaraz nets his return … hits beyond the baseline on his second return … and is forced into the error on his third return after a snarling serve from De Minaur! But the Australian then undoes all of his good work with a cheap backhand error. It’s advantage Alcaraz, a fourth SP. This time Alcaraz manages to get into the rally … the pair are going forwards and backwards and sideways and spinning and sliding and drop shotting and lobbing and Alcaraz eventually emerges victorious! De Minaur threw everything he had at Alcaraz at times in that set but still comes off second best against the world No 1.
First set: Alcaraz 6-5 De Minaur* (*next server)
15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game. Alcaraz’s first love hold. And he secures it with a superb angled effort which De Minaur scrambles to and retrieves … but Alcaraz puts De Minaur away on the next shot. Alcaraz isn’t just sheer power, you know; he’s got lovely touch too.
First set: Alcaraz* 5-5 De Minaur (*next server)
De Minaur’s fourth winner of the evening gets him to 30-15 on serve. But he misses a fairly simple rally ball and it’s 30-all. His mentor Lleyton Hewitt, the 2005 finalist who’s sitting courtside, tells his charge he should really have made that. The amiable De Minaur doesn’t argue back. He gets some luck with the net cord to prevent a set point; instead it’s 40-30. And then deuce. But De Minaur CRUSHES his forehand at his advantage, and Alcaraz isn’t getting that back. This is high-quality hitting.
De Minaur breaks: Alcaraz 5-4 De Minaur* (*next server)
But Alcaraz’s first serve is malfunctioning now too and De Minaur has a glimmer of hope at 0-30. Some rat-a-tat at the net after De Minaur chases down the drop shot and somehow finds enough balance to get back the lob – the crowd are screaming mid-point – and it’s 15-40! Two break-back points. Alcaraz, with his Rafa-style green, black and white sleeveless top (De Minaur is wearing a no-frills white top and burgundy shorts), snuffs out the first. But De Minaur pulls off a backhand winner on the second and they’re back on serve once more! Credit to De Minaur; he’s never won a slam quarter-final and he’s never beaten Alcaraz but he’s playing as if he believes anything is possible.
Alcaraz breaks: Alcaraz* 5-3 De Minaur (*next server)
Now it’s De Minaur’s turn to drop 0-30 down on serve. Alcaraz is putting the pressure on with some flat returns and another gets him to 0-40. Take one of these break points and he’ll be serving for the first set. Alcaraz misses with his forehand on the first, but suffocates De Minaur on the second and De Minaur hits his own forehand long! De Minaur’s error count is rising and his first-serve percentage is falling, and after all his endeavour to fight back in this set, he’s back on the ropes.
First set: Alcaraz 4-3 De Minaur* (*next server)
De Minaur’s purple patch continues as he sprints to 0-30 on Alcaraz’s serve. He’s having to whack the ball so hard to stay with Alcaraz, but he’s hit only two unforced errors so far. Impressive stuff. De Minaur does, however, misfire on the backhand for 15-30, and a forehand error for symmetry’s sake makes it 30-all. Alcaraz advances to 40-30 but bashes into the net for deuce. But he takes control from there to stop the run of games against him.
First set: Alcaraz* 3-3 De Minaur (*next server)
With the Rod Laver roof now open, the temperature is still above 35C, even though it’s nearly 9pm in Melbourne. But the Australians still have more than enough energy to cheer their player as he advances to 40-15, courtesy of an absorbing fourth point which draws oooohs and aaaaaahs and much applause. De Minaur holds and he’s come back from 0-3 down to win three games in a row. And he really looks as if he believes he can do this.
De Minaur breaks back: Alcaraz 3-2 De Minaur* (*next server)
I was wondering what the crowd would do in this match. De Minaur is the home hope and Australia’s most popular player, of course, but he’s facing the most adored player in tennis. Where will their loyalties lie? De Minaur whips the crowd into an absolute Australian frenzy as he gets to 0-40 on Alcaraz’s serve as the Spaniard misses three shots on the spin. The first two break points go Carlos’s way but De Minaur is fist-pumping and C’MONING and screaming with the crowd when Alcaraz blinks on his backhand on the third! They’re back on serve.
First set: Alcaraz* 3-1 De Minaur (*next server)
A purposeful “C’MON” as De Minaur forges 30-15 ahead on serve. But Alcaraz gets De Minaur on the run and even the Australian’s defences, which are some of the best in the business, are pierced. 30-all. De Minaur squeezes to 40-30 and holds when Alcaraz errs with his forehand. Cue the biggest roar of the night from the Rod Laver Arena. Their man is on the board.
First set: Alcaraz 3-0 De Minaur* (*next server)
Alcaraz backs up the break by holding to 15. An ominous opening three games for De Minaur which sum up the challenge facing the home hope in this quarter-final: he’s hitting well, but Alcaraz is the highest-ranked player on the planet right now (even though it often feels as if he’s playing on another one).
Alcaraz breaks: Alcaraz* 2-0 De Minaur (*next server)
But Alcaraz, having already let off the forehand fireworks in the first game, then shows off his backhand by bludgeoning a winner down the line for 0-15. De Minaur is in early danger of going a break down at 0-30. But Demon does what Demon does, fighting and scrapping and running and defending, and he comes back to 40-30 after surviving a 16-shot rally. But Alcaraz gets to deuce, and then has the Melbourne crowd cheering as if he’s the Australian as he show tremendous athleticism at the net to secure a first break point! Another long rally – this match has exploded into life from the off – and Alcaraz again comes forward to settle matters! He’s got the break.
First set: Alcaraz 1-0 De Minaur* (*next server)
Alcaraz sets out his stall from the off by ripping a forehand winner, before holding to 15. For me, De Minaur will need laser focus tonight, plus a few bits of luck. He can’t outhit Alcaraz, who’s got more power despite De Minaur adding more punch to his shots, but will need to continue his aggressive approach of late, staying close to baseline a la Agassi and taking risks on important points. If he waits for Alcaraz to crack the match could fly past him. He’ll also need to maintain his high first-serve percentage from this tournament and not give Alcaraz too many second serves. He’s probably the only player in the world who covers the court as well as Alcaraz, but Alcaraz doesn’t like being drop-shotted, so that could be a useful tactic.
Meanwhile Lleyton Hewitt, De Minaur’s mentor who’s in his courtside box tonight, has had this to say:
Alex will need a few things to go his way. That’s the way it is for every player against Carlos. Alex can’t afford to have any dips against someone who is so explosive and can make you pay if you go off the boil at any point. Hitting-wise, Alex is going as well as I’ve ever seen him. He’s feeling great. He’s done the work and when you know you’ve done the work, it gives you even more confidence. He’s given himself every chance but he’s still got to go out there and execute.
