The final of the Croatia Open, an ATP 250 tournament on the red clay of Umag, will pit Carlos Alcaraz (in the sixth of the season) and Jannik Sinner.
The Spaniard, holder of the trophy and number 5 in the world, had to stay on the field for almost three hours to get the better of Giulio Zeppieri.
Far less expensive, both physically and head-on, was the match won by Sinner who overtook the Italian-Argentine Franco Agamenone (# 136) in two sets.
Without history the first, finished 6-1.
The second was just a little bit more fought: 6-3.
Zeppieri, 20 years old from Latina, coming from the qualifications and the first semifinal on the ATP circuit, instead held up against the much more popular opponent for a long time, canceling the 163 positions that divide them in the ranking.
He faced him on an equal footing, in three exciting sets, at least until he had to surrender to the pain that hit him on the 3-3 of the third, crippling him in a decisive way.
Alcaraz already understood in the first set that it would not be a walk, as often happens against the Italians, who this year have already defeated him three times on five crossings (Berrettini at the Australian Open, Sinner in Wimbledon and Musetti in the final of Hamburg).
Zeppieri wasted three set points, ending up losing 7-5 in 1h22 '.
After a brief slip at the start of the second set, due to the disappointment of the wasted opportunity, the
blue left without awe, winning the second 4-6.
Even taking advantage of some problems at 2-2 for Alcaraz, who in a crash sprained his right ankle, bandaged by the doctor.
The 19-year-old Spaniard, who will be number 4 from Monday, went 3-0 in the third set, but Zeppieri climbed up to 3-3 recovering two breaks, before being bent by cramps and yielding 6-3.
Just when it seemed that the tricolor ghosts of Alcaraz were about to materialize again.
but Zeppieri climbed up to 3-3 recovering two breaks, before being bent by cramps and yielding 6-3.
Just when it seemed that the tricolor ghosts of Alcaraz were about to materialize again.
but Zeppieri climbed up to 3-3 recovering two breaks, before being bent by cramps and yielding 6-3.
Just when it seemed that the tricolor ghosts of Alcaraz were about to materialize again.