Spanish veteran Roberto Carballes Baena is on course to be the second player since Guillermo Perez Roldan in 1993 to play in three consecutive finals in Marrakech, but first he has to get past the young clay court specialist Luciano Darderi. Top seed Tallon Griekspoor is also looking to win his first clay-court title at the ATP 250 in Marrakech. Who will make it to the championship match?
ATP Marrakech Semifinal
Tallon Griekspoor vs Kamil Majchrzak
Head–to–Head: First Meeting
If Kamil Majchrzak was meeting any other player in the draw at this stage, he could have had a realistic chance of scraping through to the final, but Griekspoor has been one of the in-form players of this season and will be looking to put the icing on his performances with a first title on clay.
An upset isn’t totally out of the bag, but the more experienced top seed will find a win in this match.
Prediction: Griekspoor in 3
Roberto Carballes Baena vs Luciano Darderi
Head–to–Head: Carballes Baena 2 vs 0 Darderi
Roberto Carballes Baena’s impressive run in Morocco continues. The 2023 champion has reached the semifinals in Marrakesh for the third time in his career. The Spaniard defeated fourth seed Nuno Borges in straight sets to record his 12th win out of his last 13 matches in Morocco. The Spaniard converted four of his five break points while successfully saving 15 out of 17 break point opportunities against him.
He will now face Luciano Darderi, who produced an assured performance to defeat the in-form Vit Kopriva 7-5 6-2 to avenge his loss in the Naples Challenger final last week and end the Czech’s seven-match streak.
Darderi might lack the firepower to overpower the Spaniard like Borges did, and he will need to be more decisive with his opportunities. He converted only four out of 14 break points against Kopriva.
It will be fascinating to observe how the counter-punching style of Carballes Baena adjusts, but considering Darderi has never won a set against him and the impressive record of the 32-year-old in Marrakech, it’s hard to bet against the Spaniard securing a place in yet another final.
Prediction: Carbelles Baena in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
