Carlos Alcaraz defeated Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5 in the Australian Open semi-final on hard court, securing his place in the final despite a spirited comeback from the German. As the heavy pre-match favourite at 1.16 odds, Alcaraz controlled the opening sets but faced a stern challenge when Zverev forced a deciding fifth set, levelling the match through two consecutive tie-break victories. The Spaniard's experience and composure ultimately prevailed in the final set, where he broke through Zverev's resistance to claim victory in a gruelling five-set encounter. This result underscores Alcaraz's mental resilience on the Grand Slam stage and sets up a final showdown against an opponent to be determined, whilst Zverev's loss extends his wait for a maiden Grand Slam title.