2023-08-28 08:01:25
The 2023 edition of the US Open, which will open the competition of its main draws this Monday, looks complicated for the Argentines. And not only because of a draw that left a couple with difficult matches in the first round and others facing the possibility of meeting very tough rivals in the following instances. is that the new Legion light blue and white, led by Francisco Cerundolohad little action in the hard court tournaments that served as preparation for the American Grand Slam, with a not very positive balance, which he raised thanks to the coronation of Sebastian Baez and Winston Salem.
In the ATP 250 of Atlanta y Los Caboshe 500 de Washington and the Toronto Masters 1000 y Cincinnati Three of the eight national players who will play the tournament were present main draw of New York and, among all, they barely added a victory: that of the oldest of the Cerúndolo in his debut in the Canadian tournament. The best came at the last stop before Flushing Meadowsthe North Carolina tournament where Báez shouted champion, John Manuel Certainly reached the quarterfinals and, thanks also to the contribution of Facundo Diaz Acostanine victories were celebrated.
North American cement appointments were never preferred by Argentines, with some exceptions. Juan Martin del Potrofor example, who won 18 of his 22 titles on these types of courts, four of them in that stretch of the season, The Angels 2008, Washington 2008, 2009 and 2013 and the US Open 14 years ago.
Juanma Cerúndolo reached the quarterfinals in Winston Salem. Photo Grant Halverson/Getty Images/AFP
Until last week, in the last ten years only one national representative had managed to shout champion in the tournaments prior to the last Major on the calendar, Diego Schwartzmanwho was crowned in Los Cabos in 2019 by beating the American in the final Taylor Fritz.
That edition of the Mexican contest had also been the last time, until 2023, in which two Argentines had reached at least the quarterfinals in a date on that cement tour. is that the small had reached the decisive stage by defeating in the semis Guido Pella.
The negative streak was cut with the very good performances of Báez and the youngest of the Cerúndolo in Winston Salem. The man from Buenos Aires, who had just crowned himself in the brick dust of Kitzbuhellifted his fourth trophy in that contest by beating the Czech in the final Use Lehecka. Thanks to that celebration, he was once once more the second best Argentine in the ranking (31st).
Díaz Acosta reached the second round at Winston Salem, the only tournament he played to prepare for the US Open. Photo GRANT HALVERSON/Getty Images via AFP
Juanma, 88th, lived his best week of the season at the ATP level. He had three wins and reached the quarterfinals, where he said goodbye to Borna Coric, the top seed. Both he and Báez achieved an important milestone in their careers: for the first time they made it to the top eight in a tournament played on hard courts.
Díaz Acosta, 95th in the ranking, also played that tournament, the only one he played once morest the “big” of the Big Apple. He beat the Frenchman in the first round Quentin Halys69th, but he said goodbye in the next one once morest the Serbian Laszlo Djerefourth favourite.
In the previous weeks, Francisco Cerundolo, 20th and the best ranked Argentine today, said he was present in Toronto and Cincinnati. In the first, he surpassed the Canadian in his debut Alexis Galarneau192 °, and was eliminated by an inspired Tommy Paul14th, who later went down in the quarterfinals to Carlos Alcaraz and lost in semis with Jannik Sinner, finally champion. And in the second, the 25-year-old from Buenos Aires said goodbye in the initial round once morest the Serbian Dusan Lajovic66°.
Francisco Cerúndolo closed out the tour leading up to the US Open with a 1-2 record. Photo John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Thomas Etcheverry, 34th, closed his preparation for his second US Open without celebration. The man from La Plata was eliminated in the first round of the Canadian Masters by Sebastian Corda and in the United States by Spanish Alexander Davidovich Fokina.
Schwartzman, who continues to fight to recover his good feelings and his best level, added two straight defeats in Washington, once morest Mackenzie McDonaldand Toronto, where he had to play the qualy and was then eliminated by Paul.
After the small128th, might not overcome the previous phase of Cincinnati and cut a streak of seven years and 52 Masters 1000 in a row playing the main draw.
The other two Argentines who entered directly into the main draw at Flushing Meadows had no action on hard ground.
Pedro Cachin took a few weeks off, following an intense European tour in which he played Roland Garros (second round) and Wimbledon (first round) and won his first ATP title, on the clay of Gstaad. Pella also stopped for a few weeks, following playing Wimbledon in July (he made the third round), Hamburg and Kitzbuhel.
The 28-year-old from Cordoba, ranked 73rd in the world, and the Bahian, currently ranked 182nd but who entered the US Open with a protected ranking of 75th, will return to the circuit this week, without a competitive rhythm on concrete.
Cachin arrives in New York with no rhythm on concrete, having taken a break following winning Gstaad. Photo Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP
Taking stock, the new Legion closed the preparation for the American Grand Slam with a record of 10 wins and eight losses. Although nine of those victories came in the same contest, the last of the tour, and the majority (8) came from just two players.
Thus, without many positive results and few matches, the challenge for the Argentines in New York will be great. But if the albiceleste rackets know anything regarding it, it’s regarding rowing once morest the current and bringing out their best version in the most difficult moments. Will they be able to give any surprises in the last big event of the season?
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