It promises to be an entertaining day of semifinal action at the ATP Cordoba Open in Argentina. Both matches on the schedule promise to be competitive and all four players left in the draw will no doubt be desperate to get their hands on a trophy. But who will book their place in Sunday’s final?
ATP Cordoba Open Semifinal Predictions
Albert Ramos Vinolas vs Federico Coria
Head-to-head: first meeting
Federico Coria may not have been able to match his brother’s achievements, but th Argentine has carved out a very solid career for himself, based mostly on his prowess on the clay. Albert Ramos Vinolas has not toiled in the shadow of a more successful brother, but in most other respects his career trajectory is very similar to Coria’s. The Spaniard has enjoyed more success however. He has twice reached the second week at Roland Garros, playing in a quarterfinal in 2016, and was runner-up in Monte Carlo in 2017.
Coria cannot point to any equivalent successes, but he is the younger man and time has been snapping at Ramos Vinolas’ heels of late. He has been taken the distance in both of his matches so far this week and as a result there is a question mark over how much he has left in the tank. Coria, in contrast, should be fresh after back-to-back wins via walkover. That said, Ramos Vinolas has probably played the better tennis and remains the higher-ranked man. Expect him to have just about enough to reach the final.
Prediction: Ramos Vinolas in 3
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Hugo Dellien vs Sebastian Baez
Head-to-head: Baez 1-0 Dellien
Sebastian Baez had enjoyed a welcome return to form at the ATP Cordoba Open. The Argentine had started 2023 as he finished 2022, losing his first three matches, but he has looked sharp so far on the clay in Cordoba. He opened his campaign with a 6-3 6-4 win over Italy’s Luciano Darderi and he backed that up by battling past Marcelo Barrios Vera in three sets to reach his first semifinal of the season. But he will have to get past a man in very fine form to reach Sunday’s final in the shape of Hugo Dellien.
The Bolivian start his week in the qualifying, beating Thiago Seyboth Wild and Nicolas Kicker to reach the main draw. There, he beat fifth seed Pedro Cachin in straight sets in the first round before accounting for Guido Pella, again in straight sets, in the last 16. In the quarterfinals he scored another impressive win, getting the better Juan-Manuel Cerundolo in three sets, 6-7 6-4 6-0, to reach his first tour-level semifinal of 2023.
If Dellien plays his best tennis, this is a winnable match for him. But Baez appears to be rebuilding his confidence. The longer that process continues, the more matches Baez will win. He probably does not have the firepower to trouble the best of the best, but against anyone else he can be a very dangerous opponent, especially on the clay. So whilst Dellien might win the match, it is hard to escape the conclusion that Baez is the likelier winner.
Prediction: Baez in 3
Main photo credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
