Sebastian Baez prevailed in a bruising all-Argentine semi-final battle Friday on the clay of Kitzbühel, where the World No. 72 overcame top seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4 at the Generali Open.
Baez held his nerve in a two-hour, 41-minute encounter of fine margins at the Austrian ATP 250, converting three of five break points he earned to reach his fifth tour-level championship match. Despite a difficult start to the second set that saw him drop four games in a row to the World No. 34 Etcheverry, Baez rediscovered his rhythm in time to claim the decider via a break to love in the ninth game.
“It’s always difficult to play with a friend,” said Baez. “We’ve known each other all my tennis life, so I know him, I know he’s a very good player who has had a big year. Congrats to him for this semi-final and for this year, but I tried to fight every time and every point.”
The FINAL is set 🏆@sebaabaez7 vs. @domithiem
Saturday at the #GeneraliOpen! pic.twitter.com/ADa2BLGedK
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 4, 2023
Baez improved his season record to 20-19 with Friday’s victory. The 22-year-old arrived in Kitzbühel with one win in his previous five tournaments, but has dropped just one set en route to the final on his debut in the Austrian Alps.
“I’m very happy, because the last weeks I didn’t have big results, so happy to be in the final,” said Baez, who lifted ATP 250 crowns on clay in Estoril in 2022 and Cordoba earlier this year. “It will be tough for sure. Now I will just focus on the recovery, and we will see.”
The Buenos Aires native will take on Dominic Thiem in Saturday’s championship match after the Austrian saved five match points to beat Laslo Djere 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-6(8). Baez leads Thiem 1-0 in their Lexus ATPHead2Head series.
Baez had lost only one of his five previous ATP Tour semi-finals — to Etcheverry in Santiago in February — and he now leads his countryman 2-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. He is set to return to the Top 50 as a result of his run in the Alps, having already risen 25 spots to No. 47 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings with his charge to the final.