For Carlos Alcaraz, Umag was the starting point. In 2021, at just 18 years old, he sensationally claimed his first ATP title on the Istrian clay, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament’s history. His fearless game, bold spirit, and infectious charisma won over Croatian fans, and Umag became the stage where a teenage prodigy transformed into a superstar. Just a year later, Alcaraz returned to defend his title and entered an epic final against Sinner – a match that heralded the rise of a new rivalry set to define the future of the ATP Tour.
That 2022 final was more than a championship match – it was a clash of the two most thrilling talents of their generation and the youngest final in the tournament’s history. Nineteen-year-old Alcaraz and twenty-year-old Sinner delivered a spectacle still talked about today. After losing the first set, Sinner showcased incredible mental strength, winning 12 of the last 13 games to capture his first clay-court title and sixth ATP title overall. That victory was a turning point on his path to world number one and solidified his ability to dominate across all surfaces.
Even before lifting the trophy in 2022, Sinner had already made his Umag debut in 2019, entering the draw as a wild card. It was here that he first experienced the intensity of professional tennis – and his return, crowned with triumph, cemented Umag as a cornerstone of his rise to stardom and as Italy’s most promising tennis player of his generation.
Today, as Sinner and Alcaraz collect Grand Slam titles and battle for the top of the rankings, Umag proudly stands as the place where their story began. The tournament has thus stepped into a new era – one where Umag is not just a nostalgic stop on the ATP calendar, but a launchpad for the champions of tomorrow.
At a time when tennis is seeking new icons to define the coming decades, Alcaraz and Sinner, with their talent and rivalry, represent everything Umag has long hoped and dreamed for: to become not just a historic venue, but a true epicenter of the new era in world tennis.
