Australian Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz denies rule bending in Alexander Zverev’s epic semi-final

“Cabeza, corazón y cojones.”

If you don’t understand Spanish, it might be best to look online for the literal translation of the slogan that Alcaraz adheres to.

In short, the phrase means the ability to show head, heart and courage in times of difficulty.

Once again, Alcaraz displayed all three qualities as he dug into his reserves to defeat Zverev and reach his first Australian Open final.

Top seed Alcaraz said that retiring from the match had never crossed his mind, adding: “I hate giving up.”

Alcaraz has a “CCC” tattooed on his wrist — a tribute to the family phrase coined by his grandfather and played by the six-time major champion as a child.

After beating Zverev to continue his quest to become the youngest player alive to win a Grand Slam in his career, he pushed his chest to show that the win came from the heart.

Alcaraz has already shown his penchant for the extraordinary, most notably when he came back from two sets down – and saved three tournament points – against rival Sinner in last year’s French Open final.

“When I was younger, there were a lot of matches that I didn’t want to play anymore or gave up. Then I became an adult,” he said.

“I hate this feeling [of giving up] After all.

“Every extra step, every extra second of suffering, every extra second of fighting is always worth it.

He added: “That’s why I fight until the last ball and always believe in my ability to come back in every situation.”