Tomás Martín Etcheverry unleashes his best version in Barcelona | ATP Tour

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Etcheverry unleashes his best version in Barcelona

The Argentine signs his first semifinal in ATP 500

April 19, 2024

Tomás Martín Etcheverry celebrates his place in the semifinals of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
By ATPTour.com/es Staff

There are weeks when sporting careers change and Tomás Martín Etcheverry could get closer to his at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. The Argentine climbed this Friday to his first semi-final in an ATP 500 tournament, demonstrating that he arrived in Barcelona ready to compete for the cup. The South American, a sensation with his direct tennis, continues to confirm his return to full form in the clay season.

The player from La Plata resolved one of the great clashes of the week, keeping his eyes on the British Cameron Norrie 7-6(4), 7-6(1) to catch a close duel, with just two breaks on the clay. Against one of the most experienced rivals in the team, Etcheverry faced a test of patience, tenacity and capacity for suffering to achieve one of the hardest-fought victories of the season.

The emergence of Barcelona confirms the return of confidence in their blows. After suffering a muscle tear in his right leg in Buenos Aires, a mishap that made him resign from Indian Wells and play just one match in Miami, the Argentine has used the clay as a balm. Before unleashing his tennis fury in Barcelona, ​​Etcheverry built up power on clay in Houston and Monte Carlo, where only the champions were able to stop him.

“I’m super happy. She came from a standstill without being able to play. I was injured after Argentina. It is a surface where I feel very comfortable, it is the one I like the most,” acknowledged Etcheverry, current Roland Garros quarterfinalist. “Starting the brick season this way gives you a lot of confidence for the rest of the big tournaments to come.”

Now, the candidacy for the Conde de Godó Trophy will require an absolute level test. Etcheverry will play the semifinals in Barcelona against the third seed Casper Ruud. The Norwegian, launched on clay after his recent runner-up finish in Monte Carlo, beat the Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-3 to reach the penultimate round of the tournament unscathed.

“It’s a pleasure. I am super happy, because it is a tournament that has a lot of tradition,” stressed the Argentine in the bowels of the Real Club de Tennis Barcelona-1899. “Barcelona is something very special for us who know what clay is. In clay It is one of the most important events. For my part, I am super happy because I was looking for a result in a big tournament like this.”

With glory two steps away, the player from La Plata wants to achieve a national feat at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. Etcheverrywho already has the best performance of his career in the Catalan ATP 500, can follow in the footsteps of his compatriots Martín Jaite (1987) and Gastón Gaudio (2002) on the clay of Barcelona. An illusion to join a roll of honor full of legends.

“As a child I always grew up watching Roger, Rafa and Novak. But from that time I always admired Del Potro. From Argentina obviously the Argentine Legion had players that we were lucky enough to live with, from Cañas, Coria, Gaudio, Chela,… “There was a very good moment in Argentina, I hope we can have it again with other players.”

Did you know…?
Tomas Martín Etcheverry has provisionally secured the best position of his career. After climbing to the semifinals of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, the Argentine is ranked No. 26 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. If he lifts the trophy in Barcelona, ​​consummating the greatest feat of his professional career, the man from La Plata could rise to 21st place in the men’s individual classification.