UMAG, Aug 1 — Jannik Sinner defeated Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz for the second time in four weeks on Sunday to take the Spaniard’s Umag clay-court title.
World number 10 Sinner came from a first set deficit to beat the fifth-ranked Alcaraz 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-1 in the final.
Sinner, who now has six career titles but a first on clay, had also defeated the 19-year-old in the fourth round at Wimbledon earlier this month.
“I am obviously very happy,” said Sinner who saved all nine break points he faced.
“I have had a tough year until now, I had some unfortunate moments, but we worked every time to play better, to be a better player, to be a better person.
“So, I’m very happy to be finally lifting a trophy this year, but I know that I still have a lot of things to improve. It’s all about the process.”
Alcaraz had been seeking his fifth title of 2022 but instead was defeated in a final for the second successive week after losing to another Italian, Lorenzo Musetti in Hamburg.
Despite those back-to-back setbacks, Alcaraz will rise to a career high of four in the world rankings on Monday, replacing Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas. — AFP