Fifth seed Albert Ramos Vinolas overcame world number 9 player Diego Schwartzman 6-1 4-6 6-3 to reach the semifinal at the Cordoba Open.
Ramos Vinolas claimed his third three-match this week to beat Schwartzman, who was looking to become the fourth Argentine player to reach the secmifinals at the home tournament.
Ramos Vinolas avenged his defeat against Schwartzman, who beat his Spanish rival 6-0 7-6 (7-0) in the quarter final at last year’s edition of the Cordoba Open. Schwartzman had won their previous five head-to-head matches without dropping a set.
Ramos Vinolas went up a double break to race out to a 4-0 lead en route to winning the first set 6-1. Schwartzman claimed the second set 6-4 with a break in the ninth game. There were three breaks in the first four games. Ramos Vinolas earned the first break in the second game to open up a 2-0 lead. Schwartzman broke straight back in the third game, but Ramos got his second break for 3-1 lead. The Spaniard held on his next service games to claim the third set 6-3 on his first match point after 2 hours and 27 minutes.
“I am really happy because it was my first win against him after five losses. I think he is a great player, and I did a great job to beat him today”, said Ramos Vinolas.
Ramos Vinolas has reached her first ATP Tour semifinal since Santiago 2020. He will take on Argentine Facundo Bagnis, who cruised past Jozef Kovalik 6-1 6-2.
Nineteen-year-old Juan Manuel Cerundolo edged past Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro 6-2 2-6 6-3 following his win over Miomir Kecmanovic.
Cerundolo qualified for his first ATP Tour event joining his older brother Francisco Cerundolo. They became the first Argentine brothers to play at the same tournament since 1981.
“It’s amazing. I can’t believe it. I just feel very happy and I want to enjoy this moment. The most important thing is the confidence from the matches. Since the qualifies, I have a lot of confidence, so I think that was the key. I need to stay healthy mentally too because these matches are very hard”, said Cerundolo.
Cerundolo will face Federico Coria (the younger brother of former world number 3 player Guillermo Coria), who cruised past Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-3 6-2 with six breaks of serve after 72 minutes. Coria beat Juan Manuel Cerundolo’s brother Francisco in the second round.
