rewrite this title Alcaraz v Zverev live: Australian Open latest score updates from semi-finals

”Believing, all the time,” he says.

“I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what. No matter what you’re struggling with , what you’ve been through, no matter anything. You still believe in yourself all the time.

”I was struggling in the middle of the third set. You know, it’s one of the most demanding matches that I have ever played in my short career.

“I’ve been in this kind of matches before, so I knew what I had to do. I had to put my heart into the match.

“I think I did it. I fought until the last ball. I knew that I was going to have my chances.

“I am just extremely proud with myself and the way that I fought and the way that I came back in the fifth set.”

Never doubt the guy who came from three Championship points down to win a grand slam final.

But Carlos Alcaraz looked done as he struggled with cramp in the third and fourth sets.

He was down a broke for the whole of the fifth set: Zverev served for the match.

Somehow, he is still unbeaten in five-set matches since he was 18, with 12 wins in a row over the distance.

But Zverev – wow – he really buckled in his last two service games, up 5-4 and down 6-5.

Another bid for a grand slam title ends in heartbreak for the German.

After two-time victories at the US Open, Wimbledon and Roland Garros, Carlos Alcaraz is through to his first Australian Open final, completing the set of major finals.

In doing so, the 22-year-old Alcaraz is the youngest man in the Open Era to reach the final at all four grand slam tournaments – ahead of Jim Courier, who achieved the feat in 1993.

He moves one win away from completing the career grand slam, as he bids to become the youngest man in history to complete the career grand slam – ahead of Don Budge, who achieved the feat in 1938. Rafael Nadal is the youngest player to complete the career grand slam in the Open era, and was 24 when he did so in 2010.

That’s not even half of the story, though…

Carlos Alcaraz survived a major scare as he defied cramp and Alexander Zverev’s comeback from two sets down to reach his first Australian Open final after five hours and 27 minutes. In extending his five-set winning streak to 12 matches, Alcaraz becomes the youngest man in the Open era to reach the finals of all four grand slam tournaments.

The World No 1 looked to be cruising into the final without dropping a set as he led third seed Zverev after two close sets, but as he neared the finish line at 4-4 in the third set the 22-year-old dramatically pulled up, stretching his right leg.

With his movement severely limited, Alcaraz was in serious danger as Zverev forced the fourth set on a tiebreak and then won another tiebreak to take it into the decider. But Alcaraz somehow hung on, giving himself time to recover physically as the semi-final became the longest ever played at the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old will face either defending champion Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final.

ZVEREV FIRES LONG ON THE FOREHAND! Alcaraz will have match point!

Five hours, 27 minutes. Is this the end? IT ISSSSSSSSSSSSS!

It’s a miracle from Alcaraz! He has done it and collapses onto his back!

I can’t believe it. Alcaraz dials a stunning backhand return onto the baseline, bringing himself back to within two points of victory at 30-30.

Alcaraz was two points from victory in the third set, about three hours ago.

Zverev lands a first serve and Alcaraz nets, the German attempting to haul himself to a sixth game.

But he then fires long and the third seed will have to face another deuce!

This guy is a joke. Alcaraz pulls the legs from Zverev as he puts a drop shot over the net, with the German stranded behind the baseline.

And he leads the fifth set! Alcaraz directs the roars as he holds serve. And now it is Zverev who is close to defeat. Ridiculous.

You can feel the tension in Zverev’s legs as he serves down two break points. Alcaraz guides the forehand down the line… ZVEREV GOES LONG!

Here we go. Just the start Alcaraz needed. Zverev is hesitant as he comes into the net and Alcaraz picks him off with the backhand pass.

Oooooh this is tense. Now Zverev puts his backhand into the net and for the second game in a row, Alcaraz gets 0-30 to look at.

Zverev retreats… Alcaraz has a shot at the forehand down the line… but he pulls it wide!

NOT THIS TIME! Alcaraz fires a forehand winner crosscourt, scorching past Zverev!

Two break points for the chance to stay alive!