Carlos Alcaraz reaches Buenos Aires SFs | ATP Tour

Match Report

Defending champ Alcaraz seals Buenos Aires SF spot

Top seed next plays Jarry

February 16, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz at the IEB+ Argentina Open.
By ATP Staff

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz withstood a fierce opening set from Andrea Vavassori before finding his best form in the second, defeating the Italian 7-6(1), 6-1 to charge into the semi-finals of the IEB+ Argentina Open, where he is now two wins away from a successful title defense.

The World No. 2 was locked in a one-hour first set before he produced a clean tie-break performance, jumping to a 6/0 lead and two points later earning a one-set advantage. The Spaniard built upon his momentum, breaking Vavassori’s serve in his first two service games of the second set before sealing a semi-final berth after one hour, 40 minutes.

“I think in the first set he played such a high level,” Alcaraz said of Vavassori. “It was really tough to return his serve and challenging conditions with the wind. It was tough. But I think I played better in the second set. I think his level went down a bit, with his serve as well and I put some returns in, took my chances and I think that was the difference.”

Playing just his second match since his Australian Open quarter-final appearance, Alcaraz executed a variety of tactics, often working his way forward and implementing deft drop shots to dispatch the Italian qualifier. The two-time major champion Alcaraz won 71 per cent of his second-serve points, compared to Vavassori’s 48 per cent to extend his Buenos Aires winning streak to six. Alcaraz will next face third seed Nicolas Jarry.

Vavassori, 28, was aiming for his first tour-level semi-final appearance in just his second contest against a Top 10 player. He is up to No. 137 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, nine spots shy of tying his career-high.

The Chilean Jarry advanced after Tomas Martin Etcheverry was forced to retire with a right leg injury. Jarry dropped the opening set 4-6, but levelled the match by taking the second set 7-5 when Etcheverry could not continue.

A three-time tour-level titlist, Jarry, 28, is gunning for his first semi-final appearance since last year’s ATP 250 in Geneva, where he lifted the trophy defeating Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov en route to the title.

In the bottom half of the draw, the dream week continued for home favourites Federico Coria and Facundo Diaz Acosta. The 31-year-old Coria cruised past fifth seed Sebastian Baez 6-1, 6-4 while the wild card Diaz Acosta downed Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-3.

Coria will look for revenge against Diaz Acosta in the semi-finals, after the 23-year-old defeated him last year in the Buenos Aires first round in their lone Lexus ATPHead2Head meeting.

Saturday’s match will mark Diaz Acosta’s first tour-level semi-final and Coria’s sixth.

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Read More: Carlos Alcaraz reaches Buenos Aires SFs | ATP Tour 2024-02-17 02:47:23