World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz delivered another statement performance at the Australian Open 2026, defeating Australia’s home favorite Alex de Minaur in straight sets to reach the tournament’s semifinals for the first time in his career.
Playing under the lights at Rod Laver Arena, the top seed won 7–5, 6–2, 6–1 in just over two hours, showing composure, power, and tactical maturity in a high-pressure quarterfinal.
With this victory, Alcaraz continues his flawless run in Melbourne, having not dropped a single set so far in the tournament.
Quarterfinal Match Summary
| Match | Score | Duration | Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz vs Alex de Minaur | Alcaraz won 7–5, 6–2, 6–1 | 2h 15m | Rod Laver Arena |
The win extends Alcaraz’s head-to-head dominance over De Minaur to 6–0, underlining the Spaniard’s growing control in big matches.
Coming up, a first visit to the semi's at Melbourne Park ⌛@wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/qoekKxLSvD
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2026
How the Match Played Out
The contest began competitively, with De Minaur feeding off home support, but Alcaraz gradually raised his level and never looked back.
- First Set (7–5):
The opening set was tight and intense. Alcaraz broke late after sustained pressure and closed the set with a clean forehand winner. - Second Set (6–2):
Momentum shifted decisively. Alcaraz controlled rallies from the baseline, attacked De Minaur’s second serve, and converted key break points. - Third Set (6–1):
The world No.1 took complete command, finishing the match with authority and sealing victory with an ace on match point.
The closed roof reduced the impact of extreme Melbourne heat, creating ideal conditions for Alcaraz’s all-court game.
Key Match Statistics
| Category | Carlos Alcaraz | Alex de Minaur |
|---|---|---|
| First-Serve Percentage | 70%+ | Around 60% |
| Sets Dropped in Tournament | 0 | 1 (this match) |
| Service Breaks | Multiple | Limited |
| Head-to-Head Record | 6–0 | 0–6 |
Alcaraz combined aggressive shot-making with disciplined defense, keeping unforced errors to a minimum.
A Major Career Milestone
This victory marks Alcaraz’s deepest run at the Australian Open and strengthens his push toward a career Grand Slam, having already won the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.
At just 22 years old, he has now reached 14 Grand Slam quarterfinals, a record-setting achievement for a player under 23 in the Open Era.
ATP’s reaction summed up the moment perfectly:
“Carlito. Class.”
Alcaraz will face last year’s finalist Alexander Zverev in the semifinals on January 29, a matchup expected to test both power and endurance.
Also see: What is a Walkover in Tennis?
For De Minaur, the loss ends a strong home campaign, but his quarterfinal run confirms his status as Australia’s leading men’s player.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Australian Open 2026 journey has been nothing short of dominant. Calm under pressure, ruthless when in control, and technically superior, the Spaniard now stands just two wins away from lifting the one Grand Slam trophy missing from his cabinet.
