Alcaraz edges Zeppieri to book spot in Umag final and lock up top-4 ranking

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the top seed, won against Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to advance to the final of the Croatia Open at the ITC Stella Maris in Umag on Saturday evening.

Alcaraz, ranked No 5 and undefeated at Umag (8-0) over the course of his two appearances, will play the winner of the match between qualifier Franco Agamenone and second seed Jannik Sinner next.

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Alcaraz was tested early and often by the 20-year-old qualifier from Rome. The Spaniard saved three set points at 5-4 in the opening set and eventually took the set, 7-5.

The Italian wasn’t done fighting.

Zeppieri saved both break points he faced in set two and, as Alcaraz struggled with an ankle injury that he suffered at 2-2 while sliding near the net (the Spaniard would be fine after getting the right ankle taped during a medical timeout), broke in the tenth game to steal away with the set.

The third set was a wild one. Alcaraz broke twice to lead 3-0, and promptly gave both breaks back to find himself locked at three-all with the world No 168.

From there the determined Spaniard raced away with the final three games, winning 12 of the next 15 points to lock up his victory in two hours and 55 minutes.

Alcaraz improves to 42-6 on the season with his victory, and 27-3 on clay. He will bid for his fifth title of 2022 on Sunday.

Top-4 – and climbing!

Regardless of his performance in the final, Alcaraz will climb into the ATP’s top-4 for the first time in next week’s ATP rankings. The 19-year-old will pass Stefanos Tsitsipas to become the youngest player to achieve a top-4 ranking since Rafael Nadal in 2005.

“It’s amazing to be No 4 on Monday,” said Alcaraz. “It’s something great for me, but right now I am just focused on the final.”

The 19-year-old Spaniard beat Slovak lucky loser Norbert Gombos (6-2, 6-3) and Argentinian Facundo Bagnis (6-0, 6-4) ahead of his victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Zeppieri, ranked No 168, won against Argentinian Pedro Cachin (3-6, 6-1, 6-4), Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan (6-4, 3-6, 6-1) and Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles (7-5, 6-4).

Umag ATP 250, other semi-final matches (ITC Stella Maris, clay, EUR 597.900):

• Franco Agamenone vs. Jannik Sinner

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