There's no denying that Alexander Zverev is a superb tennis player. He is the world No 3 for a reason, having won 24 ATP Tour singles titles throughout his career so far. He is also a man who has won a gold medal at an Olympic Games, something neither Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are unable to boast about despite all their other exploits on the court.
When it comes to Grand Slams, however, there's a growing sense that the 28-year-old is cursed. Because for all his quality, for all his ability, triumphing on tennis' biggest stage seems to beyond him.
On Friday, Zverev stepped out for his Australian Open semi-final hoping to make the final of the competition. He had gone into his showdown with Alcaraz on a high after powering his way past Learner Tien in the last eight, knowing that nothing but perfection would do against a man currently on top of the world.
Zverev was sensational at the Rod Laver Arena. He produced a showing that, against most other players, would be good enough to reign supreme.
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But the problem for him is that perfection, ultimately, evaded him. And Alcaraz, being the force of nature that he is, ultimately made his rival pay the price.
Fans in Melbourne were treated to a high-quality contest in searing and sizzling conditions. Both men put on a show in a competitive contest that started closely and with fine margins between the two.
After nothing to separate the pair in the first eight games of the opening set, the ninth game was when the tide turned in Alcaraz's favour.
Carlos Alcaraz was too strong for Alexander Zverev in Melbourne as he continues his pursuit of a career Grand Slam
|REUTERS
The Spaniard was able to break Zverev before closing out the set, with the German powerless to prevent the world No 1 from edging his way into the ascendancy.
The second was another close affair. Ultimately, however, a tie-break swung in Alcaraz's favour to put him on the brink of yet another final.
In the third, Zverev's demenour started to change. Though he continued to put up a fight, resignation started to creep into his game. He has been here before, after all.
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Five facts for tennis fans | GETTY/PAYet his tail went up when Alcaraz appeared to be struggling with an injury, with the tennis star in visible discomfort. A groin strain was clearly troubling him and Zverev capitalised, winning the tie-break to give himself hope.
Another victory in the fourth set drew him level and, when he broke in the fifth, everything seemed to point to the No 3 seed making the final. Alcaraz, however, did what he does best by digging deep to turn the tide and make the final of the tournament for the first time instead - having prevailed in the longest semi-final clash in the tournament's entire history.
The reigning French Open and US Open champion now stands on the brink of immortality. He is through to his first Australian Open final and if he overcomes Sinner or Novak Djokovic on Sunday, he'll become the youngest male player to ever complete the career Grand Slam.
Yet for Zverev, this defeat will leave him wondering if his time will ever come.
The 28-year-old now risks becoming tennis' biggest nearly-man. The stats, unfortunately, back that up.
Zverev has now crashed out of a major at the semi-final stage for the seventh time.
And when it comes to finals, he's lost all three - including against Sinner at this very same arena last year.
Alexander Zverev will be wondering if his time will ever come after losing to Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open
|REUTERS
Make no mistake about it, this defeat will hurt.
Not quite as much as in 2020, when he narrowly missed out on US Open glory after coming close to beating Dominic Thiem in New York. He served for that match and was mere points away when the Frenchman turned things away to etch his name into the history books.
But, as he approaches his 30s, Zverev still is waiting for his moment to come.
As for Alcaraz, history now awaits on Sunday. Whether he's able to win the Australian Open for the first time, and achieve the career Slam he's chasing so relentlessly, remains to be seen.