Alcaraz did nothing illegal: his MTO was within the rules

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Stupor, surprise, general incomprehension, and indignation on the part of Alexander Zverev. That's what was experienced during the break of the ninth game of the third set in the semifinals of the 2026 Australian Open, when Carlos Alcaraz began to suffer cramps and requested a medical timeout, which was granted to him. In theory, medical attention cannot be received for cramps, but there is an asterisk in the regulations that enabled the maneuver.

Alarms went off when Carlos Alcaraz began to feel physical problems and show evident muscle stiffness. With the score tied at 4-4 in the third set and Alcaraz serving, he was close to victory but also far away considering he started to suffer uncontrollable cramps. The relentless heat, Australian sun radiation, and physical effort took a toll on the body of the Spanish tennis player, who managed to win that game miraculously before receiving medical attention.

An appendix in the regulations allowed attending to Alcaraz for cramps due to a key factor

But how could that be possible? True tennis fans are fully aware of a rule that prohibits medical attention for cramping players. Alcaraz experienced this firsthand years ago when he collapsed in his match against Djokovic in the Roland Garros semifinals. Therefore, when the physio appeared on the court and Marijana Veljovic allowed the Spanish player a Medical Time Out, Zverev began to protest vehemently. 

"He can't receive medical attention for cramps, this is a shame. You are protecting these guys," the German exclaimed, refusing to listen to the chair umpire's explanations. In the heat of the moment, it would have been difficult for Sascha to understand the appendix that the match umpire invoked to justify that medical time, which could have eased Carlos's transition from cramps. The key lies in what happened a few minutes earlier.

Most spectators didn't notice, but during the 3-2 break in that set, Carlos felt unwell, experienced severe discomfort, and vomited into his towel. The chair umpire perceived this, aware that the Spanish player might be starting to suffer medical problems related to the heat. Therefore, when cramps began to set in, she authorized the physio and doctor to enter the court, as cramps could be part of a heat-related multi-organ failure.

Zverev bitterly complained and will receive this explanation from the 2026 Australian Open

"In cases where there are doubts about the player's condition, the Doctor or the Physiotherapist will decide whether the player can be treated or not. If the Doctor or the Physiotherapist believes that the player has a heat-related illness and the muscle cramp is a manifestation of it, the cramps can be treated as part of the recommended treatment for heatstroke," reads the appendix of the regulations used in the 2026 Australian Open.

Carlos Alcaraz was given a pill, whether a muscle relaxant or anti-inflammatory, and various fluids to hydrate, like pickle juice. If his condition had worsened, vital signs would have been taken to ensure he wasn't on the verge of a major respiratory or cardiac issue. Therefore, it was logical for Alexander Zverev to complain, but the explanation he will receive from the 2026 Australian Open organization will be this.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz no hizo nada ilegal: su MTO estaba dentro de las reglas