Zverev Questions Alcaraz's Timeout in Australian Open Semifinal Loss

"He has cramps," shouted Zverev in German. "What else should it be? This is absolute b*******. That is unbelievable. That can not be. You can not be serious. You protect the both of them. It's unbelievable."

Tennis media and fans began debating the rules. Players are allowed treatment for cramps at three changeovers maximum, but cannot take a medical timeout. If Alcaraz had an injury prior to treatment, it would have made the timeout allowable.

Zverev went on to win the third and fourth sets before dropping the decider in what was the longest semifinal match in Australian Open history. The media in Melbourne asked Zverev about the fiery exchange with the chair umpire during his post-match press conference.

"To be honest, it was 17 hours ago," joked Zverev. "I don't quite remember. I'm sure somebody has it on video, and you can check. But to be honest, I don't want to talk about this right now. I think this is one of the best battles there ever was in Australia. It doesn't deserve to be the topic."

"I was struggling in the middle of the third set. You know, physically it was one of the most demanding matches that I have ever played," Alcaraz explained after the match. "But I've been in these situations, I've been in these kind of matches before, so I knew what I had to do.

While Zverev fails to make it back to the final in Melbourne, Alcaraz continues his best-ever Australian Open campaign. "I'm just really happy to have the chance to play my first final here in Melbourne," Alcaraz said. "It is something that I was pursuing a lot, chasing a lot, having the chance to fight for the title."