FIFA chief Gianni Infantino defended his controversial decision to award a peace prize to U.S. President Donald Trump as he dismissed calls for a World Cup boycott.
Infantino was widely criticized for giving Trump the honor on behalf of his governing body at the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington DC in December.
The move drew further scrutiny after U.S. forces seized Venezuelan president Miguel Maduro, while Trump caused more controversy with his desire to acquire Greenland for national security reasons.
However, Infantino insisted Trump was deserving of FIFA’s inaugural peace prize, telling Sky News on Monday: “Objectively, he deserves it.
“Whatever we can do to help peace in the world, we should be doing it, and for this reason, for some time we were thinking we should do something to reward people who do something.”
Infantino rejected suggestions there might be a boycott of this year’s World Cup — to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 — due to policies adopted at home and abroad by the Trump administration.
There has been unrest in a number of U.S. cities, most notably Minneapolis, over the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.
But Infantino said there were never calls for businesses to boycott a country, “so why football?”
The 55-year-old added: “In our divided world, in our aggressive world, we need occasions where people can come, can meet around the passion (for football).”
Infantino also said FIFA and UEFA — European football’s governing body — would “have to” look at allowing Russia back into international action.
Russia has been banned since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but the International Olympic Committee has now recommended sports federations allow Russian teams to compete at youth level.
“We have to(look at readmitting Russia. Definitely,” Infantino said. “This ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred.
“Having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help.” (JapanToday)
The celebrated American Christian worship leader, singer, and songwriter, Ron Kenoly, has passed away at the age of 81.
The news was confirmed by Bruno Miranda, Kenoly’s longtime music director, in a statement shared on the singer’s official Instagram page. The statement revealed that Kenoly died on February 3, 2026, though the cause of death was not disclosed.
Miranda, who worked closely with Kenoly for more than 20 years, described him as not only a mentor but also a spiritual father, emphasizing Kenoly’s dedication to his calling.
“This morning, Feb. 3, 2026, we said goodbye to Dr. Ron Kenoly,” the statement read.
“For over 20 years, I had the honor of walking alongside him in ministry around the world—not just as his music director, but as a son, a student, and a witness to a life marked by faithfulness. Doc was very intentional about one thing: he was never an artist, never an entertainer. He was a worship leader. And he took all the time necessary to explain what that truly meant.”
Miranda elaborated on Kenoly’s philosophy of worship, highlighting that he viewed his role as guiding people into sincere reverence for God.
“A worship leader’s calling is not to perform songs, but to lead people into true worship in the presence of a King; the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. He taught me that a worship leader is not merely a song leader, but a servant who connects with people whose hearts are open to worship, guiding them to ‘enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise’ (Psalm 100:4, ESV). Worship, he would say, is always rooted in gratitude for what Christ has done for us, and never in anticipation of what we want Him to do.
“Off the stage, Doc carried the same integrity, humility, and reverence for God that the world saw under the lights. He taught me that worship begins long before the first note is played, shaped by obedience, character, and a deep fear of the Lord.
“Today we grieve deeply but not without hope. The worship he lived is now the worship he beholds.
“Until we meet again, my pastor, my mentor, my friend.”
Born on December 6, 1944, in Coffeyville, Kansas, Kenoly moved to Hollywood, California, after high school and later served in the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1968. During his military service, he performed with a cover band, the Mellow Fellows, which toured various military bases.
After his service, Kenoly returned to Los Angeles to pursue a full-time music ministry, eventually becoming one of the most influential figures in contemporary Christian worship music.
His breakthrough came in 1992 with the release of “Lift Him Up”, which became the fastest-selling worship album of its time.
Bad Bunny made history at the 68th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles Sunday night, becoming the first-ever artist to win the Grammy for album of the year for a non-English language album for his landmark DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.
“I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams,” Benito said.
Outside of album of the year, Kendrick Lamar, who was the most-nominated act coming into the evening with nine overall, went back-to-back for record of the year with “Luther,” his collaboration with SZA. The record of the year win, though, came with a bit of confusion as Cher, who’d just received a Lifetime Achievement Award, began to walk off stage before announcing the category, then announced “Luther Vandross” as the winner. Lamar earned five wins on the night, including for best rap album and best rap song, and he became the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history, surpassing Jay-Z as the new record-holder.
This year’s Grammys — the final year the show airs on CBS and the last time Trevor Noah is hosting — carried a strong political undercurrent throughout the night as many of the industry’s biggest artists called out ICE amid the turmoil that’s rocked Minneapolis in recent weeks. Many of the evening’s winners either directly called out the government or voicing their support to immigrants.
SZA came backstage Sunday night after the “Luther” win, calling it “dystopian that we’re dressed up and able to celebrate accolades in the material world.”
“People are getting snatched up and shot in the face on the street, it just feels bizarre,” she said.
Billie Eilish had one of the bigger surprises of the evening as “Wildflower,” her hit off 2024 album Hit Me Hard and Soft, took home song of the year, winning out in a category that featured the likes of Kpop Demon Hunters smash “Golden,” Carpenter’s “Manchild” and Bad Bunny’s “DtMF,” among others. During her speech, alongside her brother Finneas, Eilish said “fuck ICE,” further adding that “no one is illegal on stolen land.”
Before the album of the year win, Bad Bunny began his acceptance speech for best música urbana album by saying “ICE out.” “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans,” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Meanwhile, Olivia Dean won out for best new artist, and during her acceptance speech, the “Man I Need” singer called herself “a granddaughter of immigrants.”
“I’m a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated,” Dean said. “We’re nothing without each other.”
Bad Bunny, Lamar, Lady Gaga and Carpenter all came into Sunday with nominations across the major three categories, and while Gaga won for pop vocal album of the year, she was left out in the general field and is still yet to win a Grammy outside of the genre categories. Carpenter, who had six nominations this evening, came away empty-handed.
Rosé and Bruno Mars opened the show with global smash “Apt.,” itself a historic performance putting K-pop on music’s biggest stage. (While the song didn’t win for its record of the year nomination, another K-pop tune made history as “Golden” became the first K-pop song to ever win a Grammy). Carpenter followed soon after Mars and Rosé an instant classic “Manchild” performance that had Carpenter playing the role of pilot running through an airport.
Lamar started the night strong, winning the first award of the night for best rap album with GNX, beating out Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out and Tyler, the Creator’s Chromakopia. All three rap albums were up for album of the year. Clipse, meanwhile, took home a Grammy during the pre-telecast for best rap performance with “Chains and Whips,” which featured Lamar as well. (THR)
At least 200 people were killed earlier this week when heavy rains triggered a series of catastrophic landslides at the Rubaya coltan mine in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The site has been under the control of the M23 rebel group since 2024.
“It rained, a landslide followed, and it swept people away. Some were swallowed up, others died in the wells. Many are still trapped inside,” said miner Franck Bolingo.
A spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of North Kivu province, Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, said the victims include “miners, children and market women”.
He added that at least 20 injured people are being treated, some in local health facilities, while others will be transferred to Goma, the nearest city around 50 kilometres away.
With search and rescue operations still continuing, officials say the death toll is expected to rise.
Muyisa said the governor has temporarily halted artisanal mining on the site and ordered the relocation of residents who had built shelters near the mine.
Rubaya produces about 15 per cent of the world’s coltan which is processed into a hard metal used notably to make smartphones, computers, and aircraft engines.
The United Nations says M23 has plundered the mine’s riches to help fund its insurgency
Rubaya lies in the heart of mineral-rich eastern DRC which for decades has been ripped apart by violence between government forces and different armed groups.
Since its resurgence in 2021, the M23 group has taken vast tracts of the eastern DRC.
Despite a US-brokered deal between the Congolese and Rwandan governments and Kinshasa’s ongoing negotiations with the rebels, fighting continues on several fronts in the region. (AfricaNews)
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria from his state visit to the Republic of Türkiye.
Tinubu arrived at about 8:55 p.m.
He was received by senior government officials.
The President had departed Abuja for Türkiye on January 26, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
It follows an earlier official visit to Nigeria by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan between October 19 and 20, 2021, which reinforced diplomatic ties between Abuja and Ankara.
During the days-long trip, Tinubu and his Turkish counterpart signed nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
At the centre of this was the move to ramp up bilateral trade from $2 billion to $5 billion.
“We also discussed opportunities to support our investments in Nigeria. We believe that the joint Economy and Trade Committee, which we agreed to establish today, will be instrumental in this regard,” Tinubu had said in a joint briefing with Erdogan.
Other deals sealed during the trip ranged from energy cooperation, media, higher education, and Halal Quality Infrastructure, aimed at giving Nigerian agricultural products a competitive edge.
Erdogan said his country would support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, expressing readiness to deepen cooperation in military training and intelligence.
Speaking at a joint press conference, the Turkish president said that under Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is taking firm steps against terrorism, and Türkiye stands by the Nigerian people in this struggle.
“We are ready to share Türkiye’s significant experience in counterterrorism,” presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, quoted the Turkish leader as saying.
The Turkish president also said terrorist groups, particularly in Africa’s Sahel region, pose a threat to the continent’s stability.
Nigerian officials held meetings with Türkiye’s leading defense industry firms during the visit and expressed confidence that the outcomes of those talks would be positive.
While Nigeria exports crude oil and agricultural products to Turkiye, the European country exports planes, iron and steel, chemical products, and helicopters to the West African country. (Channels)
Tottenham did fierce rival Arsenal a huge favor in the Premier League title race on Sunday.
Dominik Solanke scored a second-half double — including one from an outrageous scorpion kick — as Spurs came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw with second-place Manchester City, leaving Arsenal with a six-point lead with 14 games left.
It was almost the perfect day for the leaders, with Aston Villa — the other title contender — losing 1-0 at home to 10-man Brentford.
Villa stayed seven points adrift of Arsenal and was in danger of being reeled in by fourth-place Manchester United, which scored a stoppage-time winner through Benjamin Sesko to beat Fulham 3-2 for a third straight league win under new manager Michael Carrick.
Having already overseen victories over City and Arsenal in his short tenure, Carrick appears to have the magic touch at revitalized United.
The same cannot be said of Pep Guardiola at the moment.
This was a huge wasted opportunity for Guardiola’s City, which was up against a heavily depleted Tottenham team and was cruising 2-0 ahead at halftime thanks to goals by Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo. At times, it was almost too easy for City in front of an apathetic home crowd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
City then collapsed as a revitalized Tottenham fought back. Solanke bundled in Spurs’ first goal — appearing to kick the back of Marc Guehi’s leg, resulting in the ball dribbling over the line — and then grabbed the equalizer with a deft, flying back-flick that looped over City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the corner.
“The first half was difficult — we couldn’t get near them at times,” Solanke said. “The second half was a different story. In the second half, we were great and grew with confidence and belief.”
In the last five games, City has looked vulnerable in losing twice — to United and tiny Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League — and now spluttering against an injury-hit Tottenham.
“It is a setback but we are still there,” Guardiola said. “There are 14 games to go and a lot of points. We will see.”
Arsenal, a 4-0 winner at Leeds on Saturday, might not have a better chance to end its league title drought stretching back to 2004.
Villa played for more than half the match with an extra man after Brentford winger Kevin Schade’s straight red card for kicking out at Matty Cash in the 42nd minute after they had challenged for the ball.
In the first minute of first-half stoppage time, Dango Ouattara escaped down the right and scored at the second attempt for what proved to be only goal as Brentford weathered a second-half onslaught.
United squandered a two-goal lead earned by goals from Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, with Raul Jimenez — via a penalty — and Kevin scoring to bring Fulham briefly level at Old Trafford.
There was still time for Bruno Fernandes to send over a cross that was controlled by Sesko before he swiveled to curl home a finish in front of the Stretford End.
“It’s the best feeling, I have to say,” Carrick said about the kind of late winners United scored so often under his old manager, Alex Ferguson. “People leave here with more than just, ‘United won today.’ It’s layers on top of that, the emotion and the feeling, and it’s why we all love it so much.”
The match took place after a protest by around 500-600 United fans unhappy at the ownership of the 20-time champions, but the team is finally in a decent league position — fourth place — in its bid to return to the Champions League.
United is five points behind Villa with 14 rounds remaining.
Also Sunday, Crystal Palace — without star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta ahead of his possible move to AC Milan — drew 1-1 at 10-man Nottingham Forest, which had Neco Williams sent off in the 45th minute for a handball on the line. (JapanToday)
Arsenal settled fears of a collapse in their pursuit of a first Premier League title in 22 years by thrashing Leeds 4-0 on Saturday as Chelsea came from two goals down to beat West Ham 3-2.
Liverpool were also forced to come from behind to secure their first league win of the year as Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz shone in a 4-1 win over Newcastle.
The Gunners’ advantage over Manchester City and Aston Villa at the top of the table stretches to seven points as Mikel Arteta’s men took another step towards the title at Elland Road.
A first home defeat of the season last weekend to Manchester United capped a run of just two points from a possible nine in Arsenal’s previous three league games.
After finishing runners-up for the past three seasons, questions were raised over the mentality of Arteta’s men and their ability to get over the line in a title race.
The visitors were dealt another blow before kick-off as Bukayo Saka was injured in the warm-up.
But his replacement Noni Madueke played a major part in inflicting just a second defeat in 12 games on Leeds.
“A very impressive performance, a very impressive result, especially in the context that we’ve done it,” said Arteta.
Madueke’s cross was headed in by Martin Zubimendi to open the scoring.
Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow could then only parry another dangerous delivery from the England winger into his own goal before half-time.
Despite a fine run of form, Leeds remain only six points above the relegation zone.
Their first defeat at home since November was confirmed when the much-criticised Viktor Gyokeres latched onto Gabriel Martinelli’s cross to blast in his 11th goal since joining Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon.
Gabriel Jesus came off the bench to round off the scoring with a blistering strike four minutes from time.
Arsenal will be hoping local rivals Tottenham can do them a favour when City visit north London, while Villa host Brentford on Sunday.
Chelsea’s fine start under Liam Rosenior continued but they climbed into the top four the hard way after being outplayed by relegation-threatened West Ham for 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were booed off at half-time by their own fans after goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville gave the visitors a deserved lead.
A third consecutive league win would have taken Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to within two points of safety.
But they wilted under the weight of Chelsea pressure after Rosenior’s triple half-time substitution inspired a transformed second-half performance.
“The reaction in the second half tells me that we’ve got something really, really special here if I can utilise the squad in the correct way,” said Rosenior.
Two of those introduced at the break, Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella, brought Chelsea level before Enzo Fernandez fired in the winner in stoppage time.
Liverpool climbed into fifth thanks to two of their big money summer signings beginning to return on that investment.
Newcastle deservedly led at Anfield when Anthony Gordon fired the Magpies in front.
But two goals in two minutes from Ekitike, the first of which was brilliantly set up by Wirtz, transformed the mood around Anfield and eased the rising pressure on Arne Slot.
The Reds rolled over a jaded Newcastle after the break as Mohamed Salah teed up Wirtz for his sixth goal in 10 games.
Ibrahima Konate then broke into tears after scoring Liverpool’s fourth in his first match since the death of his father.
Everton snatched a 1-1 draw at Brighton thanks to Beto’s 97th-minute equaliser in a result that does little for either side’s aspirations of European football next season.
Bournemouth ended any remaining worries of being dragged into a relegation fight as goals from Eli Kroupi and Alex Scott earned a 2-0 win at bottom-of-the-table Wolves. (JapanToday)
Carlos Alcaraz is 22, he’s the youngest man ever to win all four of the major titles in tennis, and he had to achieve what no man previously has done to complete the career Grand Slam in Australia.
The top-ranked Alcaraz dropped the first set of the Australian Open final in 33 minutes Sunday as Novak Djokovic went out hard in pursuit of an unprecedented 25th major title, but the young Spaniard dug deep to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.
“Means the world to me,” Alcaraz said. “It is a dream come true for me.”
Djokovic had won all 10 of his previous finals at Melbourne Park and, despite being 38, gave himself every chance of extending that streak to 11 when he needed only two sets to win.
Alcaraz rose to the challenge.
“Tennis can change on just one point. One point, one feeling, one shot can change the whole match completely,” he said. “I played well the first set, but you know, in front of me I had a great and inspired Novak, who was playing great, great shots.”
A couple of unforced errors from Djokovic early in the second set gave Alcaraz the confidence.
He scrambled to retrieve shots that usually would be winners for Djokovic, and he kept up intense pressure on the most decorated player in men’s tennis history. There were extended rallies where each player hit enough brilliant shots to usually win a game.
Djokovic has made an artform of rallying from precarious positions. Despite trailing two sets to one, he went within the width of a ball in the fourth set’s ninth game of turning this final around.
After fending off six break points in the set, he exhorted the crowd when he got to 30-30. The crowd responded with chants of “Nole, Nole, Nole!”
When Djokovic earned a breakpoint chance — his first since the second set — he whipped up his supporters again. But when Djokovic sent a forehand long on the next point, Alcaraz took it as a reprieve.
A short forehand winner, a mis-hit from Alcaraz, clipped the net and landed inside the line to give him game point. Then Djokovic hit another forehand long.
Alcaraz responded with a roar, and sealed victory by taking two of the next three games.
As he was leaving the court, Alcaraz signed the lens of the TV camera with a recognition: “Job finished. 4/4 Complete.”
After paying tribute at the trophy ceremony to Djokovic for being an inspiration, Alcaraz turned to his support team. He parted ways with longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero at the end of last season and Samuel Lopez stepped up to head the team.
“Nobody knows how hard I’ve been working to get this trophy. I just chased this moment so much,” Alcaraz said. “The pre-season was a bit of a rollercoaster emotionally.
“You were pushing me every day to do all the right things,” he added. “I’m just really grateful for everyone I have in my corner right now.”
Djokovic joked about this showdown setting up a rivalry over the next 10 years with Alcaraz, but then said it was only right to hand the floor over to the new, 16 years his junior, champion.
“What you’ve been doing, the best word to describe is historic, legendary,” he said. “So congratulations.”
Both players were coming off grueling five-set semifinal wins — Alcaraz held off No. 3 Alexander Zverev on Friday; Djokovic’s win over two-time defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner ended after 1:30 a.m. Saturday — yet showed phenomenal fitness, athleticism and stamina for just over three hours in pursuit of their own historic achievements.
Djokovic won the last of his 24 Grand Slam singles titles at the 2023 U.S. Open, his push for an unprecedented 25th has now been blocked by Alcaraz or Sinner for nine majors.
Djokovic and Rafael Nadal played some epic matches, including the longest match ever at the Australian Open that lasted almost six hours in 2012.
Nadal was in the stands Sunday, and both players addressed the 22-time major winner.
“He’s my idol, my role model,” Alcaraz said. To complete the career Slam “in front of him, it made even more special.”
Djokovic, addressing Nadal directly as the “legendary Rafa,” joked that there were “too many Spanish legends” in Rod Laver.
“It felt like it was two against one tonight,” he said.
At 22 years and 272 days, Alcaraz is the youngest man to complete a set of all four major singles titles. He broke the mark set by Don Budge in the 1938 French championships, when he was 22 years and 363 days.
He’s the ninth man to achieve the career Grand Slam, a list that also includes Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer.
Alcaraz now has seven major titles — his first in Australia along with two each at Wimbledon and the French and U.S. Opens. (JapanToday)
Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti has been honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, nearly three decades after his death, marking a historic milestone for African music.
The prestigious recognition was conferred on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards ceremony held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, on the eve of the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.
With the honour, Fela becomes the first African artist to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, which has been presented since 1963 to music legends including Bing Crosby.
The award recognises performers who have made outstanding artistic contributions to the recording field over their lifetimes.
Fela, who died in 1997 at the age of 58, was celebrated posthumously for his enduring cultural, political and musical impact.
Other recipients at the ceremony included Chaka Khan, Cher, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon and Whitney Houston, who was also honoured posthumously.
The award was accepted on Fela’s behalf by his children, Femi Kuti, Yeni Kuti and Kunle Kuti, in the presence of family members, friends and prominent figures from the global music industry.
During the presentation, Fela was described as a “producer, arranger, political radical, outlaw and the father of Afrobeat.”
In his acceptance speech, Femi said, “Thank you for bringing our father here. It’s so important for us, it’s so important for Africa, it’s so important for world peace and the struggle.”
Yeni expressed the family’s excitement at the recognition, noting that Fela was never nominated for a Grammy during his lifetime.
“The family is happy about it. And we’re excited that he’s finally being recognised,” she said, adding that while the honour was “better late than never”, there remained “a way to go” in fully acknowledging African artists globally.
Seun Kuti also welcomed the recognition, describing it as a “symbolic moment.”
“Fela has been in the hearts of the people for such a long time. Now the Grammys have acknowledged it, and it’s a double victory. It’s bringing balance to a Fela story. The global human tapestry needs this, not just because it’s my father.”
Fela’s cousin and head of the Kuti family, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, reflected on how the musician might have responded to the honour.
Footage from the ceremony showed a large screen bearing Fela’s image alongside a summary of his legacy, including his expansive music catalogue, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical inspired by his life, and global cultural projects celebrating his work. (Channels)
Carlos Alcaraz overcame possible cramps and injury to fend off Alexander Zverev in an epic, momentum-swinging five-setter Friday, becoming the youngest man in the Open era to reach the finals of all four Grand Slam events.
At 22, he’s aiming to be the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.
He reached his first Australian Open final the hard way, winning 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5 in 5 hours, 27 minutes. It was the longest match of the tournament so far, and among the longest ever at the Australian Open.
That’s despite being two points away in the third set from a semifinal victory in a tournament where he hadn’t dropped a set through five rounds.
After a medical timeout for treatment on his upper right leg and massages on the same area at two changeovers, Alcaraz’s footwork wasn’t up to his usual standard for the rest of the match.
He was behind in the fifth set after dropping the first game but kept up the pressure and didn’t break back until Zverev was serving for the match in the 10th.
The top-ranked Alcaraz will next face 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic, who is bidding for an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam singles crown. The marathon afternoon match delayed the start of the night semifinal.
Asked how he was able to recover despite being so close to defeat, Alcaraz just said he kept “believing, believing, all the time.”
“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,” he said. “But I’ve been in these situations, I’ve been in these kind of matches before, so I knew what I had to do.
“I had to put my heart into the match. I think I did it. I fought until the last ball. Extremely proud (of) myself.”
Alcaraz was leading by two sets and appeared to be in the kind of form that won him the U.S. Open last year and has helped him evenly split the last eight majors with Sinner.
But in the ninth game of the third, he started limping and appeared to be struggling with an upper right leg problem. After holding for 5-4, he took a medical timeout in the changeover. It may have been cramp, but he rubbed the inside of his right thigh and called for the trainer, who also massaged the same area.
Zverev was demonstrably upset, taking it up with a tournament official, when his rival was given the three-minute break for treatment.
Even with his limited footwork, Alcaraz was able to hit winners and get to 6-5 before the trainer returned in the changeover to massage the area again.
When he went back out, the crowd gave him rousing support. Zverev served a double-fault to open the next game, and Alcaraz lobbed and then slapped a forehand winner down the line to get to 0-30. But Zverev won four straight points to force the tiebreaker and then win it.
No. 3 Zverev, the 2025 runner-up, retained his composure despite Alcaraz’s obvious discomfort and the crowd on Rod Laver Arena being firmly behind the Spaniard.
He was in front for the entire fourth set but Alcaraz stayed with him, until Zverev again took charge in the tiebreaker. More than four hours had elapsed when the match went to a fifth set, the first five-setter on the center court in the 2026 tournament.
Alcaraz dropped serve in the opening game of the fifth set but hung with Zverev, getting five breakpoint chances without being able to convert.
The drama lifted in the sixth game when Alcaraz sprinted across court to track down a drop shot and slid at full pace for an angled forehand winner. The crowd went crazy.
Alcaraz finally converted a break when Zverev was serving for the match at 5-4.
He held for 6-5 and then, with Zverev serving to stay in the match, Alcaraz converted his first match point.
“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.” (JapanToday)
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