Sebastián Báez and Federico Coria beat Chilean Tomás Barrios Vera and Francisco Cerúndolo from Buenos Aires, respectively, this Friday and advanced to the semifinals of the Córdoba Open ATP 250 that takes place at the Polo Deportivo Kempes.
Báez, who occupies 47th place in the world ranking, beat the trans-Andean tennis player 6-1, 3-6 and 6-1, while Coria (67) was left with the victory against Cerúndolo 6-3 and 3 -0, because the second seed decided to leave the game due to physical problems.
The heat was a main protagonist in today’s session: with more than 36 degrees, the stifling temperature was a determining factor for the players, who tried to adapt in the best way.
Although Baéz did not seem to feel that weather condition and with a completely overwhelming game, he hit 59% of his first services, in addition to breaking his rival’s serve twice, he comfortably took the first set.
After that first set, the Chilean player left the central court to go to the locker room, and his return was delayed for more than 10 minutes, which worried the locals, who were waiting to confirm their predominance.
? Second Argentine in semis!
?? @sebaabaez7 he beat Tomás Barrios Vera 6-1, 3-6 and 6-1
?He will play tomorrow against the winner of the duel between @juanmacerundolo and @hugo_dellien #cordobaopen #cordobopen2023 #atptour #atp pic.twitter.com/y0rqknBXZJ
– Cordoba Open (@CordobaOpen) February 10, 2023
The return to the track showed Barrios Vera with a completely different version, focused on his game and lowering the number of unforced errors, which also brought with it a decrease in the Argentine’s performance, who could not keep up with the pace of the first manga and gave up that set 6-3, passing the definition to the third.
The best version of Báez returned in the decisive set, he took risks and with renewed confidence he was able to break his rival’s serve in the fourth game, thus beginning to control the rhythms of the match.
With this dynamic, Báez clung to a victory that showed him solid, beyond the slump of the second set, and he is shaping up to fight for the title in Córdoba.
Báez now awaits in the semifinals for the winner of the game that followed Juan Manuel Cerúndolo (114) against Bolivian Hugo Dellien (138).
In the other clash, the intense heat that hit the Cordovan capital played a trick on Cerúndolo, who appeared as the second seed and had become the top favorite after the fall of Diego Schwartzman.
While Coria, who occupies the 67th position in the ATP ranking, was left with a game in which he was very determined, safe with his serve and consistent in the choice of his shots.
oh#highlight presented by @TurDepAR! ??
?I relived the triumph of @fedecoria against Fran Cerúndolo 6-3, 3-0 and retired in the #CordobaOpen2023 pic.twitter.com/4YJJdzjDwN
– Cordoba Open (@CordobaOpen) February 10, 2023
Fran Cerúndolo (31) struggled until the middle of the first set, but then physical problems appeared, denoting a decline in her game and from which she could not get out, so she decided to end the match early.
In the game that opened the day, after noon, the current champion and third seed, the Spanish Albert Ramos Viñolas (54), beat the Portuguese Joao Sousa (162) in three sets 6-4, 2-6 and 6- 1, and will be measured this Saturday with Coria.
