The top four seeds have all reached the Australian Open semifinals, with everyone but Alcaraz facing intense challenges.

The atmosphere in Melbourne is heating up as the 2026 Australian Open men's singles semifinalists are confirmed: the top four seeds have all advanced, showcasing a gathering of tennis's elite. However, unlike the dominant run of the number one seed Alcaraz, the other three seeds faced tough battles and close calls to secure their spots. Each player’s journey was marked by tension and obstacles.

The fourth seed Djokovichad a path to the semifinals that could only be described as “lucky.” His fourth-round opponent Mensik withdrew, granting him a walkover into the quarterfinals. In the quarters against Musetti, the Serbian legend found himself in unprecedented trouble, losing the first set 4-6 and the second 3-6, trailing 0-2 in sets and on the brink of elimination. Just as victory seemed within reach in the third set, the young Italian had to retire due to injury, handing Djokovic an unexpected win and a last-minute ticket to the semifinals. This “easy” advancement added a dramatic twist to the veteran’s Australian Open campaign and raised doubts about his form moving forward.

The third seed Zverevetched “hard-fought battles” into his Australian Open journey. Except for a smooth 3-0 victory over Cerundolo in the fourth round, all his matches went to four sets, with a 3-1 scoreline narrowly securing passage. Notably, in the quarterfinal against American newcomer Lehnert, the German unleashed a full arsenal, smashing 24 aces—the highest in a single match this tournament—yet still endured a tough fight. After winning the first set 6-3, he lost the second in a tiebreak 6-7(5). Luckily, he regained control by dominating the third set 6-1 and clinched the match in another tiebreak 7-6(3) in the fourth, barely escaping. Behind each 3-1 result was Zverev’s calmness in crucial points and confidence from his powerful serve, though the repeated four-set battles have undoubtedly tested his stamina.

The second seed Sinnercame close to being eliminated as early as the third round, with American dark horse Spizziri posing his biggest threat on the defense of his title. Ranked only 85th at the time, Spizziri was riding high after a five-set win over Wu Yibing and showed no fear against the “cold-blooded killer” Sinner. Although Sinner started strong in the first set, his performance dipped due to the heat, with his second serve points dropping to 14%, allowing Spizziri to claim the set 6-4—the first set Sinner lost this tournament. Worse, in the third set Sinner trailed 1-3 and suffered leg cramps that severely limited his movement, putting his title defense in jeopardy. Fortunately, the Australian Open’s extreme heat policy allowed a brief break, which became a turning point. Sinner adjusted his tactics, focused on key points, broke back, and held serve to complete a comeback, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. This thrilling victory extended his Australian Open winning streak to 17 matches and remains the most memorable moment of his progression. Though he found better form in later rounds, this dramatic turnaround left the deepest impression on his path.

Among the four seeds, onlythe top seed Alcarazhas surged forward with unstoppable momentum, emerging as the brightest star in this year’s Australian Open men’s singles. From the first round to the quarterfinals, Alcaraz didn’t drop a single set, displaying overwhelming dominance in every match. Especially in the quarterfinal against home favorite Deminal, despite a tight first set win at 7-5, he completely controlled the next two sets with scores of 6-2 and 6-1, decisively ending the opponent’s home advantage. Making his first-ever Australian Open semifinal appearance, Alcaraz not only showed hot form but also grew more mature in tactical decisions and clutch point execution. His serve pressure, baseline consistency, and net finishing were all at peak levels. With five matches won without losing a set, Alcaraz’s flawless performance declares his championship ambition and makes him the favorite to win the semifinal and the title.

The meeting of the top four seeds in the semifinals guarantees the highest level of tennis competition. Will Djokovic’s experience extend his legendary run? Can Zverev break free from his tough battles to claim his first Grand Slam? Will Sinner defend his title? And can Alcaraz maintain his blazing form to conquer Melbourne and complete the career Grand Slam?

The suspense will be resolved soon at Rod Laver Arena.

[Look at me][Bow][Rose]

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