Zverev exacts revenge on Alcaraz in Australian Open men's quarterfinals

Alexander Zverev made no mistake with his second chance to close out a win over No. 2-ranked Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday and moved into an Australian Open semifinal against two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev.

The sixth-seeded Zverev was a up a break in the third set and missed a chance to serve it out but he didn't blink the second time, finishing off a 6-1, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-4 victory.

Alcaraz won Wimbledon last year and was the only player to beat 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam match in 2023. The 20-year-old Spaniard won't get the chance in Australia this time.

It was Zverev's first win over a top-five player at a Grand Slam, and the reward was a spot in the semis for the seventh time at a major.

"Look, I'm playing one of the best players in the world, especially over the last two years," Zverev said. "He's been No. 1, No. 2 constantly. He's won two Grand Slams. And when you're up 6-1, 6-3, 5-2, you start thinking. I mean, we're all human.

"Then when you start winning, obviously your brain starts going. It's not always helpful but I'm happy I got it at the end. I fought back quite well in the end, didn't let go."

Medvedev outlasted ninth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to reach the semifinals for the third time in four years. Djokovic will play Jannik Sinner in the other semifinal.

Zverev said he'd been taking some beatings from Medvedev recently but "maybe this will be it. Maybe this will be the place."

After an exchange of service breaks to open the fourth set Wednesday and some energy-sapping rallies that had both players sprinting side-to-side to make incredible shots, Zverev got another chance to close out after breaking in the ninth game.

He clinched the victory about 1:20 a.m. local time, letting out a scream of relief and shaking both arms in celebration.

Alcaraz missed the 2023 Australian Open with injury and was into the quarterfinals here for the first time, completing a Grand Slam set.

He had dropped only one set and spent five fewer hours on court than Zverev in the four previous rounds.

"I'm sad with my level today, because I have been playing good tennis," Alcaraz said. "Obviously quarterfinal of a Grand Slam is a good run. It's not what I'm looking for, but is not bad."

Medvedev: 'I'm so destroyed right now'

Medvedev's celebration was more like a sigh of relief. He led 4-2 in the fourth set but No. 9 Hurkacz rallied to force a fifth and took it to a grueling four hours.

"I'm so destroyed right now," Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open winner, said in his on-court interview as he stood with his hands clasped behind his head.

The No. 3-ranked Medvedev has had a tough run in Melbourne, including a nearly 4 1/2-hour, five-set second-round win that finished at 3:39 a.m.

The women's semifinal lineup was completed when Zheng won 10 of the last 11 games to fend off Anna Kalinskaya 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-1 and Yastremska beat beat Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-4. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and U.S. Open winner Coco Gauff will meet in the other semifinal.

The 19-year-old Gauff beat Sabalenka in the U.S. Open final and is on a 12-match streak in majors. Sabalenka is on a 12-match winning run at Melbourne Park.

Zheng, a U.S. Open quarterfinalist last year, regained control midway through the second set after Kalinskaya won six of the last seven points to take the first set in a tiebreaker.

"Really excited. First time for me," in the semifinals, Zheng said. "Of course I'm proud of myself. But this is just the beginning — I still need to play tomorrow."

No. 93-ranked Yastremska won three matches in the qualifying tournament and became only the second qualifier to reach the women's singles semis in Australia in the Open era.

"It's nice to make history because at that time I was not born," she said. "I'm super happy [but] very tired."

Yastremska inspired by 'Ukrainian fighters'

Noskova beat top-ranked Iga Swiatek on her way to her first Slam quarterfinal but after getting an early break, was no match for Yastremska.

After the match, Yastremska wrote a message on a TV camera lens and later explained it was "about the Ukrainian fighters, that I'm very proud of them. They really deserve a huge respect."

She said she's inspired by representing her country, which has been at war for nearly two years since the Russian invasion.

"It's my mission here," she said. "If I do well, I can get — tough to express. I'm just trying to give the signal to Ukraine that I'm really proud of it."

Noskova beat top-ranked Iga Swiatek on her way to her first Slam quarterfinal and struck first, breaking for a 2-1 lead in the first set.

But Yastremska broke back immediately and from that moment on, Noskova was always playing catch up. The Ukrainian broke again to lead 5-2 and served out for the set. One break, in the seventh game of the second, was enough to seal victory.

"I was a little bit nervous, but at the same time tired. I think I was a little bit too emotional," she said. "Before my match I got angry at the practice [with] my coach. But that's fine, because I could put my emotions away. Yeah, another step is done."

In the night match, Zheng was down a set and 3-2 before winning 10 of the next 11 games to earn a spot in a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time.

The first set contained four service breaks and went to a tiebreaker before Kalinskaya took six of the last seven points to edge in front.

Zheng, a U.S. Open quarterfinalist last year, seized control midway through the second set. And, after Kalinskaya held serve to open the third, Zheng won 12 straight points.

She led 4-1 when Kalinskaya needed a medical timeout for treatment on her upper right leg, and returned to finish off the match quickly after the break.

"Really excited. First time for me," Zheng said. "Really happy to be in the semifinals, especially with such a good performance like this."

Canada's Shaw eliminated in wheelchair event

Meanwhile, the final score line reads 6-4, 6-2 and a quarterfinal victory for the favoured fourth seed.

But Robert Shaw of North Bay, Ont., had a legitimate shot at upsetting Guy Sasson of Israel in quad wheelchair singles on Tuesday at the Australian Open had it not been for some untimely service hiccups.

Shaw, who hopes to qualify for the 2024 Paris Paralympics, was leading the first set 4-2 and looked in control when his serve let him down and allowed Sasson to rally from behind and eventually take the set in 38 minutes.

Sasson took the second set 6-2 in 61 minutes, but several games were locked at 40-40 with Shaw unable to convert on his opportunities.

Sasson finished with five aces, five double faults, 45 winners, 24 unforced errors, seven of 15 break points won, 32 return points won and 26 service points won.

Shaw had no aces, one double fault, 22 winners, 12 unforced errors, four of 11 break points won and 18 return points won.

Sasson advances to the semifinals to play top-seeded Niels Vink of Netherlands, who defeated Francisco Cayulef of Chile 6-2, 6-1.

Later on Tuesday, Shaw teamed up with Heath Davidson of Australia to play Broadbent and Britain's Gregory Slade in the men's wheelchair doubles quarterfinals.