Ethe match between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at the end of Croatia Open Umag the first starring two players called to dominate in the coming years. The Murcian tennis player had to see his faces against his executioner in the past Wimbledon, in addition to another of the greatest exponents of the Next Gen, but this time on land, a surface also propitious for his rival. A week ago we had to regret Alcaraz’s first defeat in a final, en Hamburgo before Lorenzo Musetti. Sinner, also Italian, who went 8-0 against Spanish players this year, signed a 7-6 (5), 1-6 and 1-6 to prevent El Palmar from revalidating the title.
The duel started well, with the Murcian taking out his fist in the third game, when he surprised Sinner with a drop shot, although the Spaniard was solid on serve; the Spanish, to his own, too. Few options to surprise in the first games of the match (3-3) and an enviable physical display by the two players. With a tie at four games, the crucial moments of the set were reached. At that moment Sinner committed two double faults in a row, which allowed Alcaraz to equalize the ninth game. The Spanish could not take advantage of the concession. The break options, in fact, were minimal for both and thus the tie break was reached. Carlos’s fourth point (4-1) in sudden death was a luxury, with a lob and an impressive drop shot. The Spanish grew up at a key moment, although closing the sleeve was more complicated [7-6(5)].
One of the best news was seeing Carlos Alcaraz without apparent sequels in his right ankle, the one that was sprained in the semifinal match against Giulio Zeppieri. The second set started with serious break options for the Spaniard in the second game. With a favorable 40-15, Jannik managed to equalize and there began a fight of several minutes that Sinner took. The errors left Carlos without the break. His rival then came up and achieved the first break of the match when the situation had become uphill. Immediately afterwards, the tennis player from El Palmar was once again in a position to materialize the break and equalize, but again the option disappeared. Was a moral blow and from that moment Carlos’ tennis was more erratic and Sinner passed over his rival (1-6).
In the third set the Italian started with a blank serve, although luckily Alcaraz stopped the bleeding immediately (1-1). At 15-40 in the fourth game, Jannik went all out and made the break (1-3). The mental battle at this point had already been won by the Italian, who overwhelmed Carlos until he put up a resounding 1-6 again.
