Etcheverry Beats Baez To Reach First ATP Tour Final In Santiago

Tomas Martin Etcheverry continued his breakout week in Santiago by notching his second Top 50 win in three days at the Movistar Chile Open. In Saturday's semi-finals, the 23-year-old defeated third seed and fellow Argentine Sebastian Baez 7-5, 6-3 to advance to his first ATP Tour title match.

"Really I can't believe it," Etcheverry said of the milestone moment. "This is a dream for me, for my family, for my friends, all the people that helped me to reach my goals. This is amazing. Just [will try] to enjoy tomorrow. That's the key for my first final."

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Playing in his first tour-level semi-final, Etcheverry did not face a break point. In a tight opening set, the World No. 76 created the first break points of the match at 0/40 with Baez serving to force a tie-break, ultimately securing the set on his fifth set point. Etcheverry needed only one break point in the second, in its fourth game, to claim a decisive advantage.

"It was incredible today. Also like yesterday," said Etcheverry, who lost three games in his Friday quarter-fnal win against Dusan Lajovic. "It was my first semi-final today so I tried to play aggressive, the same like in the other matches. Right now I feel a lot of confidence that I can play like this. Hopefully tomorrow I continue like this because I've been playing at a good level this week."

Etcheverry earned the second Top 50 win of his career against second seed Francisco Cerundolo, another Argentine, on Thursday. He will face an unseeded opponent in the final: either Spain's Jaume Munar or Chile's Nicolas Jarry.

Already up 16 places to No. 60 this week in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, Etcheverry would enter the Top 50 by winning his first ATP Tour trophy on Sunday. No matter the result in the title match, he will reach a new career-high on Monday in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.