Carlos Alcaraz has defended his controversial medical timeout during his grueling Australian Open semi-final victory against Alexander Zverev. The match, a five-set epic lasting five hours and 27 minutes, saw Alcaraz secure a 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5 win to reach his first Australian Open final. However, the victory was overshadowed by a contentious medical timeout taken by Alcaraz in the third set, leading to heated exchanges between Zverev and the chair umpire.

With Alcaraz leading 5-4 in the third set, he called for a medical timeout, which visibly angered Zverev. Zverev argued with the supervisor, Andreas Egli, emphasizing that medical timeouts are not permissible for cramps. He was heard suggesting that Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the defending champion, receive preferential treatment. Zverev's frustration stemmed from the rule that medical timeouts are intended for treatable medical conditions like injuries or acute illnesses, not for cramping, which is considered a loss of condition.

Alcaraz, however, insists that his timeout was not related to cramps. During the post-match press conference, he explained that he felt discomfort in his right adductor. "I didn't think it was cramps at all at the beginning," Alcaraz stated. "I didn't know exactly what it was. I ran to a forehand and started to feel it in the right abductor". He elaborated that he called the physio because of the sudden pain in his right leg, and at that moment, his left leg felt "decent". The physio attended to Alcaraz, massaging his upper legs during the timeout.

Despite the controversy, Zverev acknowledged the high quality of the match. "I didn't like it, but it's not my decision," Zverev said, referring to the medical timeout. "I don't want to talk about this right now, because I think this is one of the best battles there ever was in Australia. It doesn't deserve to be the topic now". He admitted that he reached his physical limit towards the end of the match.

The German's initial outburst was caught on camera, where he used strong language to express his displeasure with the chair umpire's decision to grant Alcaraz the timeout. However, in his press conference, Zverev took a more measured approach, stating that he simply said it was "bullshit".

Alcaraz's ability to recover after the timeout and ultimately win the match has further fueled the debate. He faces the winner of the Novak Djokovic vs. Jannik Sinner semi-final in his quest for his first Australian Open title. The incident has sparked discussions about the rules surrounding medical timeouts and their interpretation, particularly concerning the distinction between treatable injuries and conditions like cramping.