Carlos Alcaraz’s Response to Alexander Zverev Following His Comments at the Australian Open

Carlos Alcaraz rules out injury after epic win and admits extreme physical toll

Carlos Alcaraz ruled out any injury on Friday following his victory over Alexander Zverev, though he admitted that stress, heat and physical exhaustion took their toll in a marathon match that lasted five sets and nearly five and a half hours.

The Spaniard explained that the discomfort was likely caused by dehydration, a lack of electrolytes and the accumulated tension during the match.

“Physical issues can come from a lack of salts or dehydration. There were a lot of nerves, and that’s what we’ll try to improve,” he said in a press conference.

Medical timeout and a body pushed to the limit

During the match, Alcaraz requested a medical timeout to receive treatment from a physiotherapist, though he declined to reveal what he took to recover.

“That stays between my team and me.”

He acknowledged the immediate impact of the effort.

“Tomorrow I’ll wake up really stiff,” he admitted.

One of the toughest matches of his career

The world No. 1 described the clash against Zverev as one of the most demanding matches he has played.

“It’s been one of the toughest matches of my career. We pushed each other to the limit.”

He also praised the level of play.

“The level was really high, and I’m very happy to have won. It’s one of the best matches I’ve ever won.”

Never thought about retiring

Alcaraz denied ever considering retirement despite images circulating during the match.

“I’ve seen the video and people saying I was going to retire, but there wasn’t a single second when I thought about that.”

He emphasized his competitive mindset:

“I hate giving up. I always believe I can come back in any situation.”

Cramps, stress and mental strength

Alcaraz explained that cramps increased as the match went on, especially in his right adductor.

“That’s why I called the physio. At first I didn’t know if they were cramps, but with the stress everything came afterward.”

Looking ahead to the final, he admitted his body is feeling the effects of the long battle.

“After five and a half hours, the muscles are beaten up.”

Still, he remains confident in his recovery.

“Tomorrow I’ll have a session with the physio and we’ll see… I hope it’s nothing serious and that I can be in the best possible condition for the final.”