UMAG, July 27, 2021
#NextGenATP star Carlos Alcaraz earned his first ATP Tour title on Sunday with a 6-2, 6-2 win against former World No. 7 Richard Gasquet of France in the final of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag.
The 18-year-old Spaniard is the youngest tour-level champion since 18-year-old Kei Nishikori lifted the trophy in Delray Beach in 2008. Alcaraz had not made an ATP Tour final before this week but dominated the match against the French veteran and 15-time ATP Tour titlist.
The No. 7 seed saved all three break points he faced and converted four of his own eight break- point chances to succeed after one hour and 17 minutes.
Aged 18 and an ATP champion 🏆@alcarazcarlos03‘s winning moment… pic.twitter.com/sP7ZOwGyCN
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 25, 2021
”It’s amazing. I have a lot of emotions. I’m really, really happy with this victory, this win, my first ATP title. I’m going to enjoy this moment a lot,” said World No. 73 Alcaraz, who defeated Frenchman Lucas Pouille, Andrej Martin from Slovakia, No. 3 seed Filip Krajinovic of Serbia as well as his compatriot and top seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas en route to the championship match.
“I had a lot of good moments in this tournament. I beat five great tennis players. I think that I grew up a lot in this tournament and I keep a lot of experience from this tournament. It’s going to be useful for the future.”
Alcaraz is coached by former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, champion in Umag 11 years ago. The teenager, a winner of four ATP Challenger trophies, has become the youngest Spaniard to win an ATP Tour title since countryman Rafael Nadal claimed his first trophy in Sopot in 2004. Nadal was just eight days younger that day than Alcaraz is today.
Champions working with champions 🤝@alcarazcarlos03 & @juankiferri have something very special 🏆
🎥: @TennisTV | @CroatiaOpenUmag pic.twitter.com/VVHRzlERtA
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 25, 2021
Romboli/Vega Hernandez win first team title
On Saturday, Fernando Romboli of Brazil and Spaniard David Vega Hernandez made a perfect team debut this week, as they defeated top seeds Tomislav Brkic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nikola Cacic from Serbia 6-3, 7-5 in one hour and 16 minutes to win the doubles title in Umag.
The unseeded duo saved seven match points during their title run. They overcame four in the quarterfinals against Croatian wild cards Admir Kalender and Mili Poljicak and three in the semi-finals against Radu Albot from Moldova and Pedro Martinez of Spain.
A maiden title for 🇧🇷 Fernando Romboli & @VegaDavid23 🇪🇸
They defeat top seeds Brkic & Cacic 6-3, 7-5 in Umag.
📷: @CroatiaOpenUmag pic.twitter.com/21Rfdewbk4
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 25, 2021
