Lyon ATP 250: Sebastián Báez wins and advances to the quarterfinals

Sebastián Báez continues to gain speed and confidence for what will be his first involvement at Roland Garros. On Tuesday, he advanced to the quarterfinals of ATP 250 Lyon by beating German 5-7, 6-4 and 6-2 oscar otte, 60th in the ranking, in nearly two hours of play. The Buenos Aires native, 38th in the world, is seeking his second title on the most important men’s tennis circuit in that French city and if he succeeds, he will also enter the top 30 for the first time.

The 21-year-old Argentine struck from the start and got a break in the first game of the match, which he later confirmed to make it 2-0. The German, however, reacted quickly, returning his serve in the fourth (2-2) and then breaking again in the 12th to close out the set.

In an even second set, Báez again took the lead in the first (2-1), but again Otte equalized the score, when the Argentine seemed to be on track, and scored 4-4. Seba answered with another break, leaving him 5-4, and then sealed 6-4 with no problem.

And in the last chapter, Báez is more effective and makes fewer mistakes. And with a break in the fifth game and another in the seventh, he led the partial and the victory.

Báez, one of the best exponents of Next generation Argentina continues to enjoy a great season, where he started to reap great successes on the ATP circuit, where he was one of the players with the biggest progress in recent months.

He has climbed more than 60 positions in the rankings since the beginning of the year: he was 99th in the first update of 2022. At the end of February, he played in his first final, in Santiago de Chile, where he lost to Spain. Peter Martinez. And two weeks ago, he celebrated his first title with Estoril ATPwith victory against Frances Tiafoe Eventually.

On Monday, he made his debut on Monday in Lyon with a win against Thomas Etcheverry in a duel of the Argentines. And now, in the quarters, the British will play cameron norrie11th in the world and top favorite in the tournament, beating Francisco Cerúndolo 6-4, 44th in the ranking and another of the talents of the new litter of light blue and white rackets.

Another celebrant this Tuesday in Lyon was Federico Coria, who, in one of the pending first-round matches, won 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 against the German. Daniel Altmayer (54 °). The Santa Fe native, 59th in the ranking, will have a big challenge in the round of 16 as he will face the Spaniard. Pablo Carreno Bustasecond seed.

On the other hand, Facundo Bagnis (98th) said goodbye to Geneva ATP 250 by falling 6-4 and abandonment against the Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili (25 °). Rosario was just 46 minutes on the field. After losing the first set, and with his head focused on arriving at Roland Garros in good shape, he decided to retire due to pain in his left calf, which has plagued him since qualifying and has not allowed him to move comfortably.

So, the only Argentine still racing in the Swiss competition is Federico Delbonis (62nd), who will face the Australian in the round of 16 Thanasi Kokkinakis (85 °).