Alcaraz powers into Australian Open semifinals after weathering De Minaur’s early surge

A tight start, then Alcaraz takes over

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the Australian Open semifinals with a commanding straight-sets win over Alex de Minaur, 7-5, 6-2, 6-1, on Rod Laver Arena. De Minaur began with intensity and pressure, pushing Alcaraz in a competitive first set that threatened to tilt the crowd and momentum toward the home favorite.

But once Alcaraz escaped the first set, the match swung decisively. He tightened his serving patterns, increased the weight of his forehand, and used heavier spin and pace to force shorter replies. De Minaur’s resistance faded as the rallies consistently turned into Alcaraz-controlled points.

De Minaur’s quarterfinal hurdle remains

For De Minaur, the loss added to a frustrating trend at majors. Again he reached the quarterfinals, and again he could not break through to the final four. Australia’s singles campaign ended with his exit, though the tournament still had home interest in doubles events.

A career milestone within reach

At 22, Alcaraz is now two wins from a title that would complete a career Grand Slam, a rare achievement that would further define his early era. His ability to adjust tactically mid-set—changing pace and patterns rather than simply swinging harder—was a key theme of the quarterfinal performance.

Next: a heavyweight semifinal

Alcaraz will face Alexander Zverev in the semifinals, a matchup that promises a contrast of styles: Alcaraz’s creativity and speed against Zverev’s baseline weight and serving strength. Their rivalry has been tight, and the semifinal sets up as a major test of Alcaraz’s bid to take the Melbourne crown.

• Scoreline: Alcaraz def. De Minaur 7-5, 6-2, 6-1
• Stage: Quarterfinal
• Venue: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
• Next opponent: Alexander Zverev

If Alcaraz maintains the level he found after the first set, he will enter the semifinal as the player with the sharper acceleration gear—an attribute that often separates champions late in majors.