The 2026 Australian Open semi-final between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev witnessed an epic brawl. But the match was not without controversy. The five hour and 27 minute encounter, the third longest match in Australian Open history, saw Alcaraz bring his beastly mentality to deny Zverev. It was a missed opportunity for the Germans to get past Alcaraz. Zverev was serving for the match, but a combination of nerves and fatigue caused his serve to abandon him when Alcaraz broke him twice in the final set. While the match was sublime for the spectators, one particular moment stood out and caused quite a bit of controversy.
Australian Open Semi Finals Update
During the ninth game of the third set, Carlos Alcaraz took a medical timeout to tend to an injury. But Zverev had a huge confrontation with the umpire and the officials who were looking after Alcaraz. Zverev could clearly be heard on the microphone saying: “It’s unbelievable. It’s BS. You’re protecting these two guys all the time.” Were the rules not followed when it comes to medical time off? Was Zverev right to protest?
Zverev cries at Carlos, who is taking medical time out, has bad cramps
You don’t have to be a Carlos fan or a sinner to hate beasts, just be human beings and hate beasts #beasts #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/3Z33M9LkxI
— serve with tennis (@servewithtennis) January 30, 2026
ATP rules for medical time off
Under guidelines set by the ATP and other tennis organizations, medical breaks are only allowed for treatable medical conditions such as injuries or acute illnesses during play. But when it comes to cramps, there is a clear rule. General fatigue, dehydration and muscle cramps caused by exertion are classified as incurable conditions. There is also a protocol. Players experiencing cramps may be assessed by medical personnel. However, treatment is not permitted if the condition is believed to be exercise-related. The decision rests solely with the medical professionals of the tournament and not with the Chief Referee.
This was why Alcaraz went after the officials who were tending to Alcaraz’s injury. But maybe it didn’t make sense to go to the referee chairman. The irony of the whole thing is that when this incident occurred, Zverev had won not only the third set but also the fourth in tiebreaks.
But a gray area
ATP rules clearly state that cramps cannot be treated on the court. Andy Murray, a former three-time Grand Slam winner, however, claimed there was a gray area in the rules. As an analyst on one of the channels, Murray mentioned, “The difference between a cramp and an injury is very blurred. It’s treated like a thigh injury.”
So, did Alcaraz take advantage of the loophole? Was Zverev right about that? After the game, both players stuck to their side of the story.
Carlos Alcaraz says he wasn’t sure at first if he was cramping or if it was a problem with his adductor during the match against Zverev, “I just told the physio what happened and he decided to go for a medical”
“At first I didn’t think it was cramps at all. I didn’t know.” pic.twitter.com/mvL62zDoqB— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 30, 2026
“He was cramping, so normally you can’t take a medical timeout for cramping. 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 basically b*****t,” Zverev noted. Alcaraz, on the other hand, claimed that the match was the most physically demanding encounter he had ever experienced. “I only felt something in one muscle, the adductor of my right leg. The truth is, I didn’t think it was a cramp, so I called the physical therapist and asked for a medical examination. At that moment, nothing else bothered me, the rest of my body is fine, decent,” Alcaraz was fine,
The controversy surrounding it has somewhat died down the glow of an epic match. Do the rules need to be re-evaluated? Maybe not. At the end of the day, you believe in a player who has actually suffered an injury.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
January 30, 2026
