Coria, Baez Set All-Argentine Final In Cordoba

Argentine Federico Coria advanced to his second tour-level final on Saturday when he battled past Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4, 7-6(2) at the Cordoba Open.

Competing on home soil, the sixth seed continued his impressive week as he outlasted defending champion Ramos-Vinolas in a series of brutal baseline exchanges to advance after two hours and 32 minutes.

Coria, who has dropped just one set en route to the final, rallied from a break down in the second set, hitting with consistency in the second-set tie-break to earn victory in his first ATP Head2Head meeting against Ramos-Vinolas.

Coria lost in the championship match in Bastad in 2021, but he will try to go one step further to his maiden ATP Tour crown on Sunday. The 30-year-old is up to No. 49 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings as a result of his run so far in Cordoba.

His opponent in the championship match will be Sebastian Baez, after the fourth seed eased past Hugo Dellien 6-4, 6-4 to seal an all-Argentine final lineup.

Despite Bolivian qualifier Dellien reclaiming an early break in both sets in the pair's first ATP Head2Head meeting, Baez responded with a second break on both occasions. He converted four out of nine break points overall to seal a 90-minute victory and reach his fourth ATP Tour final.

“I think to be [good] on the difficult moments, because he has had confidence this week,” said Baez when asked about the key to his victory. “He beat good opponents, so I know it was a tough and close match and I’m happy to take it, in the difficult moments, to be better than him.”

After competing at the 2021 Next Gen ATP Finals, Baez enjoyed a breakout season on the ATP Tour in 2022. He reached championship matches in Santiago and Bastad either side of lifting his maiden ATP Tour title in Estoril, where he defeated Frances Tiafoe in the final.

“It means a lot, but [it brings] confidence,” said Baez when asked about reaching his first tour-level final in his homeland. “I have my people here, my friends, my family, everything, so that is a big motivation for me. Tomorrow is a difficult match but I’m happy to be in another final again.”