Sebastián Báez defeated Albert Ramos-Viñolas and advanced to the ATP 250 final in Estoril

Argentine tennis player Sebastian Baez | defeated Spanish Albert Ramos-Viñolas 6-3, 6-7 (7-9) and 6-0 and advanced to the final of Estoril ATP 250in Portugal, which is part of the European tour in brick dust and will distribute prizes of 597,900 euros.

Baez. who on Monday will occupy 48th position in the ATP world rankings, will play in the second final of his circuit career after losing the decisive ATP 250 game in Santiago, where he lost in February against Spanish Pedro Martinez 4 -6, 6-4 and 6-4.

The second semifinal of the Lusitanian contest, and where Báez’s next rival will come from, will star the following two Americans: Sebastian Korda (37) and Frances Tiafoe (29).

The 21-year-old tennis player from Buenos Aires kicked off a great week in Portugal with consecutive wins against the local. Joao Sousa (83), champion of Estoril in the 2018 edition, the Croatian Marin Cilic (23), former world number three and US Open champion in 2014, the French Richard Gasquet (80) and now Ramos-Vinolas.

Báez had a solid start where he became strong in his service and took advantage of every mistake of his opponent. He breaks fast and knows how to hold on to close the first chapter 6-3.

In the second set, everyone indicated that Báez could seal the ticket to the final quickly, especially after Ramos-Viñolas sought medical help due to a physical decompensation. However, the Spaniard recovered, did not give up his service (he defended the four break points that the Argentine had) and forced definition into tie-break.

In the tiebreaker, Ramos-Viñolas was accurate in his game from behind the court and climbed to 5-1. But Báez recovered and had six consecutive points to move to the front. Anxiety played out against the Buenos Aires player who released two consecutive right hands and allowed the Spaniard to lift the two match points and pick up the set after closing the tie-break 9-7.

The third saw the best in Báez, who was relentless and gave the physically and mentally tired Ramos-Viñolas no break. He broke him in the second and in the fourth game, he rose to 4-0 and it all got harder for the European. With the advantage, Báez served to make it 5-0 and then sealed the victory without a problem against an opponent who looked dedicated.

“Why not me? (Why not me?),” Báez asked himself every time he signed on camera in Estoril and this time was no exception. The Argentine has advanced to the final and will seek his first ATP title this Sunday when he collided with the winner on the cross between Korda and Tiafoe.

The top favorite for the title in Estoril is Canadian Félix Auger Aliassime (10), who lost yesterday in the quarterfinals with North American Korda, while second was the Argentine Diego Schwartzmann (15), but last Tuesday he chose to withdraw from the tournament to maintain his physique for the next Masters 1000 in Madrid, which starts tomorrow, and in Rome. Báez looks slapped.