Croatia Open 2022: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Giulio Zeppieri Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 Croatia Open as Carlos Alcaraz takes on Giulio Zeppieri in the semifinal on Saturday, July 30th, 2022.

Who is stopping Carlos Alcaraz at the Croatia Open? Perhaps the next highest-seeded player in the draw which is JannikSinner. But before that potential finals showdown, the top seed will need to extinguish Giulio Zeppieri’s hopes of main-eventingthe Croatia Open final on Sunday.

Carlos Alcaraz is on a rampage at the Croatia Open. And judging by the way in which he romped to victory in his two matches this week, he just doesn’t look like a champion ready to relinquish his Umag crown. Alcaraz has that extra incentive of overcoming his first-ever ATP Tour finals defeat in Hamburg last week, and win it all this weekend. The Spaniard dropped just four games as he served a masterclass to knock out FacundoBagnis in his quarterfinal match.

Giulio Zeppieri, for his part, reached his first ATP semifinal of his career at the Croatia Open. Before this week, Zeppieri had never gone beyond the first round at an ATP tournament, losing in his two appearances in Sardinia and Cagliari on home turf. But this week (as has been the case with compatriot Agamenone), the 20-year-old old has defied the odds to make it this far. Wins over Pedro Cachin, Daniel Elahi Galan and Zapata Miralles will likely earn him a place inside the world’s top 150 next week. But can he upstage the defending champion?

Carlos Alcaraz and Giulio Zeppieri have not clashed on the ATP Tour. Saturday’s match at the Croatia Open will be their first official meeting. Alcaraz has wasted little time to advance to the semifinals and will take some stopping. The Spaniard is celebrating a place inside the world’s top five for the first time, and has turned potential and hype into reality. I would be shocked if there is any other result but a straight-sets win for the new World no. 5.