The Japan Times - Alcaraz rolls into maiden Melbourne semi-final and date with Zverev

The Spanish world number one silenced a partisan Melbourne crowd in brushing aside outclassed home hope Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena.

The 22-year-old Alcaraz is yet to drop a set as he arrows in on a maiden Australian Open crown.

"I'm just really happy how I'm playing every match, each round my level is increasing," he said, in a warning to his rivals.

"Today I felt really comfortable, playing great tennis that I am really proud of," added Alcaraz, who had never previously gone beyond the quarter-finals in Australia in four previous visits.

The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam that Alcaraz has not won.

Should he beat Zverev and then win Sunday's final, he would surpass compatriot and legend Rafael Nadal as the youngest man to win all four majors.

Nadal was 24 when he did it.

Top seed Alcaraz started like a train against the Australian sixth seed, who has reached the last eight of all the Grand Slams -- and still never gone further.

In a topsy-turvy opening set, the six-time major champion Alcaraz raced into a 3-0 lead, only for De Minaur to rattle off three games in a row for 3-3, to roars of approval.

A pumped-up Alcaraz stopped the rot and forged a 5-3 lead, but then squandered the chance to close out the set and was broken.

They were at 5-5 when Alcaraz ramped up the intensity to win the next two games and take the set, De Minaur left kicking himself for failing to take his chances.

The 26-year-old Australian paid the price, Alcaraz punishing him to seize the second set in 44 minutes.

He took that momentum into the third set and stepped it up another notch.

He grabbed a 3-0 lead in less than 20 minutes on his way to a ruthless win, sealing it with his fifth ace.

Earlier, German third seed Zverev sent down 24 aces in a 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Learner Tien of the United States to book his last-four spot.

"I have seen him throughout the whole tournament and I know he is playing great, aggressive tennis," Alcaraz said of Zverev.

"I have to be ready, not just me but my whole team as well.

"We need to play tactically really well, it's going to be a great battle."

On Wednesday, 10-time Melbourne champion Novak Djokovic faces Italy's fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals.

The winner will face either two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner or United States eighth seed Ben Shelton in the semi-finals.

S.Yamamoto--JT