De Minaur topples Zverev in three-set epic to set up Alcaraz final in Vienna

Alex de Minaur beat Alexander Zverev 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the Vienna Open final. — AFP pic

First Published: Sunday, 01 Nov 2026 12:42 PM MYT

VIENNA, Nov 1 — Alex de Minaur held his nerve to overcome incoming men’s No. 1 Alexander Zverev in an epic three-set struggle yesterday to reach the final of the Vienna Open where he will face Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Daniil Medvedev.

Zverev had ensured he would rise to the top of the rankings earlier in the week in Vienna. He had beaten De Minaur in March in the semi-final at Indian Wells, but this time the Australian won 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4).

Zverev wobbled on service in the fifth game to concede the first set, but the German raced to a 4-0 lead as he romped through the second set, leaving De Minaur rattled.

But De Minaur kept his focus as both men held service without facing a  break point in a tense third set.

Zverev ran out of steam in the tiebreak, going 6-2 down. He saved two set points before De Minaur edged into the final on his third match point after 2 hours and 31 minutes.

“Super proud, super proud with how I handled the situation,” De Minaur said at the end. “I was very calm.

“I played a very aggressive tie-break. I played on my terms. I was going to go out swinging and playing the right type of tennis, and that’s what made the difference today.”

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz extended his unbeaten ATP 500 run to 15 matches as he won 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) in 1hr 36min as Medvedev dug deep in a losing battle in the second set.

Both De Minuar and Alcaraz will be appearing in their first Vienna final as they meet for the seventh time on tour and the third time in a championship match, after Queen’s in 2023 and Rotterdam in 2025.

The head-to-head, however, is heavily lopsided, with Alcaraz holding a perfect 6-0 record.

“It’s a great feeling, beating someone like Daniil on an indoor court, after the (run) he was having,” Alcaraz said.

“I’m really happy to have the chance to play another final, and my first one here in Vienna.”

For Medvedev, it was nonetheless a fruitful week as a fifth consecutive run to at least the last four of a tournament secured a place in the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin next month.

De Minaur’s win lifted him into the qualifying places for the Finals. — AFP