Alcaraz and Sinner to meet in Croatia Open final
UMAG, Croatia (AP) - Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz overcame a second set scare on the way to defeating qualifier Giulio Zeppieri 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to advance to his seventh career ATP final at the Croatia Open on Saturday.
With the victory, the 19-year-old Spaniard is in his tour-leading sixth final of the year.
'œIt's amazing to be in a final here again,'ť said Alcaraz, who won his maiden ATP title here last year.
He overcame his first dropped set in the clay-court tournament and a roll of his ankle in the semifinal against the 20-year-old Italian.
'œAt the moment it is good,'ť Alcaraz said about his ankle. 'œI don't feel too much right now. Let's see tonight or tomorrow morning, but I am going to say I will be ready for the final.'ť
In his first real test in Umag after two straight-set victories, Alcaraz converted six of his 15 break points while Zeppieri, who didn't win a tour-level match before this week, broke him four times.
Sunday's final against second-seeded Jannik Sinner will be Alcaraz's 100th match on the tour.
Sinner eased past fellow Italian Franco Agamenone, a qualifier, 6-1, 6-3 to advance to his first ATP final this year and eighth overall.
___
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports