(Tennis news) Diego Schwartzman is trying his luck at home for the second time in two weeks. The 29 year old had lost in the semifinals of the Cordoba Open a few days ago and is now into the quarterfinals of the Argentina Open for the 4th successive year. The Argentine beat Jaume Munar in a close two set tie breaker, he had faced the Spaniard in last year’s quarterfinal which was a much shorter affair. The world number 15 had a chance to take the set at 5-3, Munar fought back with brute force for a 6-5 lead and was also 2 points away from winning the set but in the tiebreak it was the defending champion all along.
In the second set, the 24 year old had a lead in the start and in the end but could never take that one crucial point which cost him the match. In the tie break there was no doubt about the winner as Schwartzman won 6 points while his opponent was yet to win a point. Munar took 4 points as it looked the tie break could go on longer than expected but a ferocious forehand cross court return put the speculations to dust. Schwartzman defeated Munar 7-6(7-2), 7-6(7-4).
Francisco Cerundolo had reached the finals last year at Buenos Aires as a qualifier where he lost to Schwartzman. This year too as a qualifier Cerundolo is into the quarterfinals where it will be a rematch of last year’s final. The 23 year old looked pumped up against Miomir Kecmanovic as the forehands looked untouchable while winning the first set. In the second set, it was Kecmanovic who had superior groundstrokes and netplay which put him on board alongside his rival. In the final set, it was again the world number 107 who mixed up his tactics to overcome the Serbian a few seconds before the 2 hour mark. Cerundolo defeated Kecmanovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
Fabio Fognini restricted his movement as much as possible against Pedro Martinez as the crowd witnessed an Italian special. Fognini denied Martinez an ace all match while he hit 4 of them as it might have contributed to the Spaniard serving 4 double faults in the second set. The 34 year old looked unmoved as he was down 4-2 in the first set and proceeded to wreck the ball as his groundstrokes could not have been hit better. In the second set, the world number 61 saved a matchpoint at 5-4 but could not avoid the same at the tie break. Fognini defeated Martinez 6-4, 7-6(7-5).
Also read: Federico Coria sets up late recovery against Lajovic at Buenos Aires
