Carlos Alcaraz charged into the Australian Open semifinals for the first time in his career with a dominant 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 victory over home hope Alex de Minaur on Tuesday, keeping his bid for a Career Grand Slam alive at Melbourne Park.

The 22-year-old Spaniard swapped extravagance for efficiency at Rod Laver Arena to eliminate the sixth seed, who was aiming to end a five-decade Australian wait for a homegrown men's winner at the tournament.

A six-time major champion seeking to become the youngest man to win all four Grand Slam titles at least once, Alcaraz appeared on course for a routine win, but had to work hard to put away the contest.

"I'm really happy with the way I'm playing," Alcaraz said. "I was increasing my level every match ... talking with my team. After the first match, they said the level I want to play was going to come. I'm playing great tennis and really happy to get into the semifinals."

After converting an early break to take a 3-0 lead, Alcaraz's retooled serve came under heavy scrutiny in the fifth game when he faced three break points. De Minaur, on the other side of the net, refused to let the pressure get to him.

The Australian retrieved relentlessly and broke back to level, before recovering another break in the ninth game and delighting the crowd by holding in the next, but a few loose points allowed Alcaraz to squeak out a gripping opener.

"It's really difficult. I started the match well and I was hitting well with seven or eight winners in the first few games. But Alex makes you rush all the time," Alcaraz said of his opponent. "You want to hit the ball as hard as you can, which is impossible against him. I took a moment ... and then I was more patient after 4-4. You have to be really focused on every ball, win the point three or four times."

Alcaraz began the second set as he did the first and the top seed was in no mood to let the momentum slip away this time, hitting two rasping crosscourt backhands to surge ahead 5-2 and tighten his grip on the match.

De Minaur, deflated, gave up a break early in the third set. Alcaraz never looked back, wrapping up the victory and setting up a clash with third seed Alexander Zverev, a rematch of the 2024 quarterfinal won by the German.

"I have to increase my level," Alcaraz said. "I've seen him throughout the tournament and he's playing great tennis. He's solid, aggressive and serving well. I have to be ready. He beat me in practice before the tournament. I have to play tactically really well. It'll be a great battle and I'm looking to take revenge."