This week, the Herald is reporting on the ground from the Argentina Open, so check back for updates!

Last updated: February 15, 10:50 p.m.

The last game of the day featured Argentine Sebastián Báez (30th ATP singles ranking) going up against the man who eliminated him at the Córdoba Open, Argentine-born Italian Luciano Darderi (76). Báez won 6-4, 7-5, setting up an Argentine duel with Federico Coria.

The first set was closely fought, with both players consistent with their groundstrokes. Báez broke Darderi’s serve at 2-2, which proved enough as he held the advantage to win the first set 6-4.

Darderi came out swinging in the second set, with aggressive strikes that pushed Báez into defense, and got an early break at 2-1. The Buenos Aires native, however, managed to get his rhythm back and recovered the break at 3-3 to tie the game.

With the fans very open about their support for Báez, he broke again at 5-5 and served to win the set 7-5 and wrap up the game.

“I’m very happy [about the result] but every game is a different story,” said Báez after the game. “I learned a lot from last week and I was able to do a better job tactically.”

“Last game I was too defensive, so this time around I tried to take the initiative. I was able to do it at times and that showed in the final result.”

Last updated: February 15, 9:15 p.m.

Day four’s night shift at the 2024 Argentina Open saw the highly-anticipated debut of world number two Spanish Carlos Alcaraz (ranked 2nd in the ATP singles rankings), who went up against Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli (134). The top-seeded Spanish player in the tournament and defending champion won 6-2, 7-5, and will face Andrea Vavassori (152) this Friday.

Alcaraz had a hesitant start to the game, dropping his serve twice, although Ugo Carabelli was unable to build a lead. Once the two-time Grand Slam winner started hitting his shots accurately, he was able to run away with the first set 6-2.

The second set started much in the same way, with Alcaraz dropping his first serving game. However, Ugo Carabelli struggled with his backhand which gave the Spanish player a door back into the game, and then to turn over the advantage.

Serving for the match at 5-3, Alcaraz was shaky once again and Ugo Carabelli broke his serve to extend the game. With great determination and feeling the roaring support of the fans, the Argentine pushed trying to send the game to a tie-break but ultimately fell 7-5.

“I think I had a good match, with solid strokes across the board, and I’m feeling good physically and mentally” said Alcaraz after the game. “Camilo left me with a very good image. I knew him becaus I follow tennis results a lot and I knew he was a tough player to beat who’s had some good results. He’s got the level to keep growing and I’ll follow him a lot closer now.”

The action continued on day four of the Argentina Open. The highlight of the day shift was Argentine Federico Coria’s (ranked 107th in the ATP singles) shock win against second-seed British Cameron Norrie (20th). Despite coming off a marathon 3-hour win against Austrian Sebastián Ofner, Coria astounded the tournament’s second seed with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 win in two hours and 20 minutes of play.

Coria took advantage of a very erratic Norrie, who struggled to push past the Argentine’s defense in the first set. The Rosario native took an early break and was able to hold the advantage throughout the set, managing to break Norrie’s serve again in the last game to wrap up the first set 6-2.

The second set proved a more intense affair, with the British player improving the accuracy of his groundstrokes and hurting Coria with deeper, more offensive shots. A break for Norrie at 3-2 was enough to win it 6-4 and tie the game.

The match would swing around again in the third set, with Coria’s move to a more aggressive style finding gaps in Norrie’s defense. A break at 2-1 allowed the Argentine to build a lead, reduced by Norrie reclaiming it at 4-2. However, Coria managed to regain his advantage and served to wrap the game with the final 6-3.

“This is the biggest win of my career, no doubt,” said Coria after the match. “Norrie was a top-10 player not long ago, so I’m very happy with how I played. I was able to push him, to play aggressively and do what my coaches asked, who are always pushing me to trust in my game.”

“When you compare players at the Challenger and ATP Tour levels, you can’t hope for them to miss shots at key moments, and that’s something I have to change in my game. Players at this level won’t miss easy shots so you have to do something else.”

Coria will now face the winner of the clash between Sebastian Báez and Luciano Darderi on Friday. Earlier in the day shift, Italian Andrea Vavassori (152) beat Serbian Lazlo Djere 6-4, 7-5. He will face the winner of Carlos Alcaraz and Camilo Ugo Carabelli.