The Argentina Open begins to fly: the return of Alcaraz to the professional circuit and the usual illusion of the Legion

He Open Argentina -the most important tennis tournament in our country and second leg of brick dust’s South American tour, which started this week in Córdoba- will start next Monday, with a luxury main board. Among the 32 players in the main draw – with a level above the ATP 500 compared to 250, the category of this event, which will be drawn on Saturday at 15:00 – there will be three top 20A grand slam champion and at least you are Argentinian (Some others may join from the qualy, which will be played over the weekend). And three days before the start of the competition, Buenos Aires has already started receiving some of the big stars.

The great expectation is placed on the arrival of Carlos Alcaraz, the leading candidate for the title. The number two in the world – who until just over a week ago was in first place in the rankings, against which he lost Novak Djokovicchampion in Australia – landed this Friday on Argentine soil.

The Murciano, current champion of US Openwill arrive with his father, uncle and brother, who will take advantage of the opportunity to get to know South America a little, and Antonio Martinez Cascales, who will coach in this tournament and also in Rio de Janeiro, which will be played the following week. your coach Juan Carlos Ferrero he will join the pack for Acapulco and Indian Wells and Miami Masters.

The Spanish he made no special requests for his stay in Buenos Aires, as he said a few weeks ago Martin Jaite, director of the ATP of Buenos Aires. Although the organization will assign a security person that will always be with you.

Carlitos – who will make his first-team debut on Wednesday or Thursday night – added the Argentine tournament to his schedule at the last minute, having left Australia with a right leg injury. He hasn’t played since Nov. 4, when he retired against Holger Rune in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters 1000 with a torn abdominal area.

Among the big favorites was the “advanced”. Cameron Norie. The Briton, 11th in the ATP ranking and second seeded, arrived in Argentina at the beginning of the week and was training in some clubs in the city. Wednesday I stepped on the brick dust of the Lawn tennis in Buenos Aires and has already had a chance to rally in the Guillermo Vilas Court. And she even found time to go to a Belgrano hairdresser to get her hair done up, as she showcased on her Instagram account.

Norrie – born in South Africa, raised in New Zealand and since 2013 represents Great Britain, his parents’ country – has won four titles (Indian Wells 2021the most important), was a semifinalist in Wimbledon last year and comes from the final in Auckland and third round in Melbourne, at the start of his season. He will play for the first time the main draw of the Buenos Aires tournament, although it won’t be his first foray onto the BALTC fields. In 2019 he played the qualification, in which he fell in the second round.

He also has a special bond with our country: his coach, Facundo Lugones, is Argentinian. They met when the English were playing in the team of Christian University of Texasin which was the porteño trainer assistant. In the video where she confirmed her participation in the contest, Norrie said hello in Spanish “Hello lads” and then he asked that they have the roast ready to receive him and the fernet for Facu. and closed with a “To move on!”.

They will be other of the great figures of the tournament Lorenzo Musettothird seed, e Dominic Thiemone of the guests of the organization, who continues to work to catch up after missing a good part of 2021 due to a left wrist injury and not finding regularity in 2022. Both were expected this Thursday at the BALTC.

The 20-year-old Italian, 18th in the world rankings and one of the most talented in the Next generation, won his first two titles last year, in Hamburg and Naples and just lost in his debut in Australia. She will be her first time in the Buenos Aires competition.

The Austrian, former world number three and champion of US Open 2020 (his last title), is today on the 96th step of the standings and arrives with a record of 0-3 in this 2023. The ATP of Buenos Aires will play for the fourth time, which he has won twice, in 2016 (with a finished victory Nicolas Almagro) and in 2018 (before Aljaz Bedene). And he will be accompanied by his coach, the Chilean Nicola Massù.

In addition to playing the singles draw, Thiem will also play doubles diego schwartzmann. The two received a wild card for the duo tournament, which they have already played together in 2018 (semifinals) and 2019 (they lost the final with Horace Zeballos AND Massimo Gonzalez).

He small It is he who completes the group of favorites who will go out in the first round. Seeded fourth, his arrival in Buenos Aires happened faster than expected, because he was eliminated in his debut at the Córdoba Open, against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

The porteño, 28th in the ATP, had a difficult start to the year. He was injured in the round of 16 in Auckland, which he dropped against Jenson Brooksby in the second set, and Australia played physically handicapped, due to that left leg problem, and only made it to the second round. In Buenos Aires he will try to repeat the celebrations of 2021, when he defeated in the decisive match Francis Cerundolo and added his fourth title. He was also a tournament finalist in 2019 and last year.

The other Argentines who have already secured a place in the main draw are Francisco Cerúndolo himself -this Friday he retired in Córdoba and we will have to wait for his decision- Sebastian Baez, Frederick Coria, Pedro Cachin AND Guido Pella and Facundo Diaz Acosta, the other two wild ca3 of the competition. While, Thomas Etcheverry, Facundo BagnisJuan Manuel Cerundolo, Camillo Ugo Carabelli, Federico Delbonis AND Thiago Tirante the standings will play on Saturday and Sunday, with free admission.

The brick dust of the BALTC is now ready and anxiously awaiting the stars of the circuit, who will enliven the 2023 edition of the Argentina Open and who, little by little, are landing in Buenos Aires.