India, Jan. 31 -- Carlos Alcaraz overcame cramps and injury to fend off Alexander Zverev in an epic, momentum-swinging five-setter Friday to become 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.

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. He was behind in the fifth set after dropping the first game and didn't break back until Zverev was serving for the match in the 10th. Alcaraz will next face either two-...