Carlos Alcaraz Targets Maiden Melbourne Semi As Heat Set To Hit 45C

Last Updated:January 27, 2026, 08:03 IST

Carlos Alcaraz faces Alex de Minaur and a passionate Melbourne crowd for his first Australian Open semi-final.

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after defeating Tommy Paul (Picture credit: AP)

Carlos Alcaraz will need to overcome not only Alex de Minaur but also a patriotic home crowd to reach his first Australian Open semi-final on Tuesday, as a freak heatwave is expected to push temperatures towards 45°C.

Four quarter-finals are scheduled for day 10 at Melbourne Park, with all matches set to be played under the roof of Rod Laver Arena due to the extreme heat forecast.

Play on outside courts, where doubles matches are scheduled, is likely to be affected.

German third seed Alexander Zverev, who lost last year’s final to Jannik Sinner, will face American next-gen star Learner Tien.

The winner of their match will face either top seed Alcaraz or sixth seed De Minaur for a place in Sunday’s final.

“If it is going to be really, really hot on Tuesday and the roof is going to be closed, I have to accept that and just try to play my best tennis indoors," said Alcaraz.

“So whatever it is, I will be ready. I will be focused. I will try not to think about it and not let it affect my game at all."

The 22-year-old Spaniard has won six Grand Slams but has yet to progress past the last eight in Melbourne.

De Minaur has never advanced past the quarter-finals at any Slam and is hoping the home fans can help him pull off an upset in the last match of the day on centre court.

“For me, it just comes down to bringing some of my best tennis," said the Australian, who has lost all five previous encounters with Alcaraz.

“Once I step on the court on Tuesday, you just deal with whatever’s in front of you," he added regarding the likely closure of the roof.

Two-time women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka opens the action on Rod Laver Arena against American teenager Iva Jovic, who stunned two-time Grand Slam finalist and seventh seed Jasmine Paolini in round three.

Jovic, 18, demolished the experienced Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 in her previous match and said she does not fear four-time major winner Sabalenka.

“I don’t really feel like there is a lot of house money or underdog mentality that I’m feeling," said the 29th seed.

Sabalenka, the 2023 and 2024 champion, lost last year’s final to Madison Keys, who was eliminated from the tournament on Monday by Jessica Pegula.

The winner will face either American third seed Coco Gauff or 12th-seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.

That quarter-final will precede the Alcaraz and De Minaur match on Rod Laver Arena in the evening session.

(With AFP Inputs)

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