Alexander Zverev has renewed his criticism of officials for permitting Carlos Alcaraz to take a medical timeout during their Australian Open semi-final clash, branding the decision "b******t".
The German third seed voiced his frustration after Alcaraz, who had fallen two sets behind, received treatment for cramping mid-match.
Despite capitalising on his opponent's physical difficulties to level the contest, Zverev ultimately fell short in a dramatic five-set encounter.
Alcaraz prevailed 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5, breaking Zverev when the German was serving for the match.
The controversy arose when Alcaraz began experiencing cramps at 4-4 in the third set, having already lost the opening two sets.
After holding his serve, the Spaniard summoned the physio and was granted a full three-minute medical timeout.
Under ATP rules, players are not permitted to take medical timeouts specifically for cramping, though they may receive treatment on up to three occasions during changeovers.
ABSOLUTE CINEMA 🎬
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2026
Alcaraz moves into his first AO final after a five set epic lasting 5 hours 27 minutes against Zverev! @wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/zdBB3yHcxt
At the time of the intervention, it remained unclear whether Alcaraz was dealing with an injury or simply suffering from cramps, adding to Zverev's frustration with the officials' decision.
During the match, Zverev expressed his displeasure that the umpire had waited to assess Alcaraz's condition during the 4-4 game before activating the shot clock, while also objecting to the full three minutes of treatment his rival received.
The Tokyo Olympic champion also engaged in a heated exchange with the supervisor in German, during which he reportedly suggested that both Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner enjoyed special protection from the rules.
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Alexander Zverev was left unhappy after his Australian Open exit at the hands of Carlos Alcaraz
| REUTERSWhen questioned about these alleged comments in his press conference, Zverev doubled down.
“I mean, he was cramping, so normally you can't take a medical timeout for cramping, yeah. What can I do? It's not my decision. I didn't like it, but it's not my decision. I just said it was bulls***, basically,” he said.
Zverev took full advantage of Alcaraz's physical struggles, claiming both the third and fourth sets on tiebreaks to draw level.
He then secured an early break in the deciding set, putting himself in position to serve for the match.
However, the world No 1 produced a remarkable fightback, winning the final four games of the contest.
Alcaraz broke Zverev's serve at the crucial moment, denying the German what would have been his first Australian Open final and completing an extraordinary comeback from two sets down.
Carlos Alcaraz is on the brink of tennis immortality following his win over Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open | REUTERSReflecting on the defeat, Zverev admitted he had completely exhausted his reserves by the final set.
"I had absolutely nothing left in me. Even at 5-4, you know normally I can rely on my serve a bit more. My legs stopped pushing upward," he explained.
The German expressed greater regret about squandering a 5-2 advantage in the second set, believing that converting that lead could have altered the match's trajectory significantly.
Despite the painful conclusion, Zverev acknowledged the quality of the contest: "I think this is one of the best battles there ever was in Australia."