Alcaraz explains mysterious physical issue after angry response from Zverev
NewsFriday, 30 January 2026 at 15:40
Carlos Alcaraz has clarified the nature of his physical problem during a dramatic 2026 Australian Open battle against Alexander Zverev.
Although the opening two sets were competitive, Alcaraz looked on course for a relatively straightforward triumph at 6-4, 7-6. However, his task was complicated by his difficulty moving after the second set.
Alcaraz seemed confused by the issue, and spoke with the physio, who thought a medical timeout was the best option. That enraged Zverev, who thought the six-time Grand Slam champion was cramping, which would mean he was not supposed to be allowed a medical timeout.
Last year's French Open and US Open winner began moving freely during the fourth set. Zverev was on the verge of an extraordinary comeback when he served for the match at 5-4 in the fifth, but Alcaraz somehow recovered to reach the final.
In his post-match press conference, Alcaraz said he did not think the sudden problem was cramps when speaking to the physio, and confirmed that the physio had deemed a medical timeout the right option.
"I didn’t think it was cramps at all at the beginning. I didn’t know exactly what it was. I ran to a forehand and started to feel it in the right adductor. That’s why I called the physio. Because it was just that moment, the rest of the legs.. the left leg was good. Not good, but decent."
"After that with all the stress I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t know if it was going to be worse or not. In that moment I just talked to the physio and said ‘Ok I just went to run to the forehand side and I started to feel the right adductor.’ He decided to take the medical time out and he did it. I just told what happened to the physio and he decided to take a medical.”
Alcaraz admitted he did feel cramps across his body after being treated by the physio, but felt that was due to the stress of having a physical issue rather than the injury itself being caused by cramps.
“I felt something only in a muscle, the abductor of my right leg. The truth is that I didn't think it was cramps, that's why I called the physiotherapist and asked for a medical time. At that time, nothing else bothered me, the rest of the body was fine, well, decent."
“However, shortly after being treated, I think because of the nerves and stress of not knowing exactly what was wrong with me, I began to feel cramps all over my body. They granted me medical time because what I transmitted is that when I moved to the right, I had felt a pain in my abductor. That was true.”
Zverev talked more calmly about the situation in his post-match press conference, but the German's frustration about it in the heat of the moment was understandable since it did seem like Alcaraz had cramps to most viewers.
Regardless of whether the medical timeout should have been allowed, Alcaraz's ability to fight through that match after struggling physically was exceptional, and he deserves significant credit.
Alcaraz will face Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final after the 24-time Grand Slam champion's extraordinary five-set win against Jannik Sinner.
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