Argentine Tennis Faces Early Setbacks in Australian Open Lead-Up
The Australian Open is just around the corner, but it’s been a rough start for several Argentine tennis players in the lead-up tournaments. Three prominent Argentines suffered defeats in the early rounds, casting a shadow over their Grand Slam aspirations.
Tomás Etcheverry,currently ranked 39th,saw his run in the Adelaide International 2 (Great Ocean Road Open) come to an end in the second round. After a grueling three-hour battle against local favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis, Etcheverry fell 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4). kokkinakis, ranked 77th, is known for his strong performances on Australian soil and capitalized on home court advantage to secure the victory.Etcheverry’s loss follows a mixed bag of results at the United Cup, a mixed-team tournament held at the end of last year. Despite the setback,Etcheverry has reason to be optimistic as he was recently named to Argentina’s Davis Cup team for their upcoming tie against Norway in 2025. This will mark Javier Frana’s debut as captain.
Meanwhile, in Auckland, the ASB classic saw two more Argentines fall in the early rounds. Francisco Cerúndolo (ranked 31st) was defeated by Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena (ranked 59th) in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. Mariano Navone (ranked 46th) also suffered a three-set loss to Portugal’s Nuno borges (ranked 36th), 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Though, amidst these disappointments, Facundo Díaz Acosta (ranked 78th) emerged as a radiant spot for Argentina in Auckland. Díaz Acosta, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser, secured a hard-fought victory over fellow Argentine Sebastián Báez (ranked 28th), winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-1).This marked Díaz Acosta’s first ATP-level win over Báez, having previously defeated him only once in a Futures tournament.
Díaz Acosta’s remarkable performance propelled him into the quarterfinals,a meaningful achievement for the left-hander from La lucila.This is the first time Díaz Acosta has reached the quarterfinals of an ATP tournament on a hard court, a testament to his growing prowess on the surface.
Báez, who played with a knee brace due to a recent injury, was subsequently left out of Argentina’s Davis Cup squad for the upcoming tie against norway.
In othre news, Maria Lourdes Carlé, ranked 96th, enjoyed a triumphant run at the WTA 250 tournament in Hobart. After battling through qualifying,Carlé won her first-round match against Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. However, her journey ended in the round of 16 with a loss to American Mccartney Kessler (ranked 67th), 6-2, 6-2.
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