Murcian tennis talent Carlos Alcaraz Garfia reached the final of the Umag tournament, earning the position of world No. 4. This milestone places him among an elite group of eight Spaniards who have achieved a top-four ranking in the history of Spanish tennis. In the same match, the opponent, Italian Giulio Zeppieri, defeated Alcaraz with a scoreline of 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 after a contest that lasted roughly three hours. The match also saw Alcaraz sustain a sprained right ankle in the second set, requiring on-court medical attention, yet he continued to play through the pain with noticeable resilience.
first set
The Murcian player initially looked uneasy for the majority of the first set. Early exchanges and the closing stages showed him imposing his game more consistently against a Zeppieri who fought with commendable tenacity. At critical junctures, such as when he faced three set points, Alcaraz demonstrated poise and determination. After a timeout in the second game, he steadied his rhythm, and by the third game he invoked a second timeout, then a third, to reset and refocus. From there, his first serve began to click, helping him reach a 3-1 lead. The Italian driver did not relent and nearly equalized in game six, but a decisive backhand mid-rally helped Alcaraz save the point and maintain momentum, moving ahead 4-2.
Doubts started to creep into the world No. 5’s game as the set progressed, marked by several forced errors and a stretch of flat play when leading 4-4 and facing a tense moment in game eight. The match hit a dramatic peak in the tenth game, when Zeppieri faced three set points of his own. With a powerful forehand and a successful net assault, Alcaraz erased two of these threats and seized the set on a bold finish, 7-5, after an hour and 21 minutes of intense exchanges. The emotional energy of the set reflected how tightly contested it was and foreshadowed the brutal physical toll that would follow.
second set
In the second frame, Alcaraz found himself struggling to settle into a comfortable rhythm. A moment of misfortune occurred in the fifth game when he twisted his right ankle, drawing medical attention from the on-site team. Though the injury did not derail his overall demeanor, it limited his movement and footing. He did manage to show resilience, however, and recovered enough to secure a crucial hold in the eighth game after a lengthy rally. The set swung on Zeppieri’s serve, and the Italian moved to a 4-6 finish in the tenth game. This was the clear turning point where the student of Juan Carlos Ferrero faced a pivotal test with Zeppieri pressing and Alcaraz fighting to maintain competitiveness, an outcome that reflected the depth of both players’ preparation and mental strength.
third set
As the final set began, Alcaraz appeared to respond more sharply, channeling regained confidence into his service games. He secured an authoritative second set win on serve and then converted the first break opportunity, quickly advancing to a 3-0 lead within the set. Zeppieri showed signs of life, regaining some footing in the fourth game and pulling to a 3-1 score, only to see Alcaraz answer with rhythm and control. A timeout provided a brief pause that allowed Zeppieri to stabilize, yet the Spaniard maintained the upper hand, moving to a 4-3 edge after a service break. The match intensified as Zeppieri attempted to mount a comeback with cramps entering the later stages. Alcaraz seized his chance with a decisive break and followed it with a commanding hold, stretching the lead to 5-3 before finishing the clash with another service game to seal a 6-3 third set victory. The finish underscored Alcaraz’s ability to persevere through adversity and convert pressure into a championship finish. Cited from Reuters for context, the contest highlighted the level of concentration and tactical execution displayed by the rising star.