ATP250 Cordoba Open

[mightyjeditribble]

There does not seem to be a thread about this ATP250 tournament; the first clay-court tournament of the season. It's probably a bit late, but I thought there should be one. (Apologies if it's covered somewhere and I missed it.)

QF line-up top half:

Munar v Bagnis (Q)
Etcheverry (3) v Coria

In the lower half, only Darderi (Q) is through to the QF already, beating 4th seed Ofner. The remaining R16 matches still have to be played; I think they had to be postponed / interrupted due to rain. They are:

Hanfmann (7) v Burruchaga (Q)
Tirante (LL) v Diaz Acosta
Dellien v Baez (2)

The Hanfmann v Burruchaga match appears to have been interrupted at 3-6 6-1 1-2 30-15 (on serve in the third). The other matches are yet to be played.

Top seed Cerundolo was knocked out by Munar.

It's not the most inspiring line-up to be honest. If I am not mistaken, Baez is the only player left in the draw who has won an ATP-level title, which 5 of his 6 finals and 3 of his 4 titles coming on clay. So he should be the favourite here to defend his title. Or could it be a chance for one of the others to pick up his first title?

 

[Centrius]

Two Etcheverry out there?

 

[FrankyRelax]

Been watching this all week. These courts are in bad shape. I've never seen so many stoppages during a match to fix clumps

 

[mightyjeditribble]

So it's Baez v Darderi and Bagnis v Coria for the semifinals. Baez still on track to defend his title.

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

So it's Baez v Darderi and Bagnis v Corina for the semifinals. Baez still on track to defend his title.

100% Argentinian semis!

With the Darderi family in the middle of a contractual dispute with the Italian federation, rumor on the street is that Luciano may soon be back to representing his home country... It would be a shame to lose him just as he is starting to establish himself, but the biggest blow might be losing his promising little brother, 16-year old Vito.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Wow Darderi won the first set 6-1 against the defending champion. Bagnis beat Coria. Will it be a battle of the qualifiers in the final?

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Two Etcheverry out there?

Whoops, one of them was supposed to be Coria I think.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Baez up 2-0 now in the second. I guess he's still favourite to pull this out despite the first set score.

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

Baez up 2-0 now in the second. I guess he's still favourite to pull this out despite the first set score.

Not anymore

 

[mightyjeditribble]

When is the last time we had an ATP final between two qualifiers?

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Ok so Darderi won his first title here, up to a career high ranking of 76. I think he had only one ATP level win before this?

It will be interesting to see whether this was a flash in the pan or whether he can have some impact in the bigger clay court tournaments this year.

 

[Move]

Quite remarkeble : he beat 3 seeded players on his way to the title coming from the qualifications

 

[Mainad]

Maiden ATP title for Darderi making him the 3rd maiden ATP titlist this season (after Lehecka and Tabilo). Just last week he had lost in the 2nd round of a Challenger!

 

[Rattie]

Maiden ATP title for Darderi making him the 3rd maiden ATP titlist this season (after Lehecka and Tabilo). Just last week he had lost in the 2nd round of a Challenger!

Wasn’t this his second ever ATP tournament as well?

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

Wasn’t this his second ever ATP tournament as well?

Third. He also got into Acapulco as a LL last year, after losing to JACOPO Berrettini in qualies. But his only ever tour-level wins have been on the swampy Cordoba clay (these 5, plus a first round win over Gaston last year). Though I'm sure that will change soon: he's not an eye-catching talent, but he's one hell of a worker and fighter. And little bro Vito, whom I got to watch live a few times, seems primed to become another never-say-die Argentalian grinder.