(Umag) No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz worked hard to beat qualifying player Giulio Zeppieri 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to secure his ticket to the Croatia Open final , Saturday.
Posted yesterday at 6:16 p.m.
Given his victory, the 19-year-old Spaniard will take part in his seventh career final on the ATP Tour. Alcaraz has appeared in six finals this season, a peak on the circuit.
“It’s amazing to be in the final here again,” said Alcaraz, who won his first ATP Tour title in Croatia last year.
In the semi-final against the 20-year-old Italian, Alcaraz lost a first set in the clay-court tournament and injured his ankle.
“For now, everything is in order,” Alcaraz said of his ankle. “I don’t really feel anything right now. We will see tonight or tomorrow morning, but I would say I will be ready for the final. »
In his first challenge at Umag after two straight-set wins, Alcaraz converted six of his 15 break points while Zeppieri, who had never won on the ATP Tour before this week, broke his rival at four occasions.
Sunday’s final against second seed Jannik Sinner will be the 100e Alcaraz match on the circuit.
Sinner easily defeated fellow Italian Franco Agamenone, a qualifying player, 6-1, 6-3 and will be in his first tournament final this season. He took his total to eight career finals.