UMAG, Croatia. Top seeded Carlos Alcaras edged out Norbert Gombos 6-2, 6-3 to begin the defense of his first ATP title at the Croatia Open on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Spaniard became the second-youngest player this century to reach the top five in the rankings announced on Monday. Only Rafael Nadal has done it at a younger age since 2000.
Fifth-placed Alcaraz, who lost last week’s European Open final in Hamburg to Lorenzo Musetti, broke Gombo four times while maintaining all seven break points he faced.
Alcaraz is tied with Nadal for the most ATP titles this year with four.
In the quarterfinals, he will face Facundo Bagnes. The Argentine beat the Frenchman Corentin Mute with a score of 6:3, 6:1.
Franco Agamenone edged out No. 4 seed Sebastian Baez 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 for his second ATP main draw win, while Italian colleague Marco Cecchinato upset No. 8 seed Musetti 6-4, 6-3.
Source: www.espn.com