Báez, first South American semi-finalist of the NextGen

Sebastián Báez made history this Thursday by becoming the first South American tennis player to qualify for the semifinals of the NextGen ATP Finals. The 20-year-old Argentine and 111th in the world, who entered the tournament thanks to the resignations of Jannik Sinner, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jenson Brooksby, won 4-3 (2), 4-2 and 4-2 and eliminated from He passed the French Hugo Gastón (21 and 67º) and passed to the crosses as second in group B, because his namesake Sebastián Korda beat the Italian idol Lorenzo Musseti (4-2, 4-3 (4) and 4-2) and ends as the undefeated leader to face Brandon Nakashima on Friday (19:00, Movistar Deportes). Báez’s rival will be great: Carlos Alcaraz (9:00 p.m., #Vamos).

With a high percentage of success with first serves (82%), Báez dominated Gastón, visibly tired after his fantastic week in Paris-Bercy and two tough and long matches in Milan. It goes empty. In fact, Sebas quadrupled the Frenchman’s winning shots (24-6) and made only 11 unforced errors. “I have to keep a cool head, I have another game and I must continue focused and improve on the things that I have not been doing well, for tomorrow, not only for this tournament.”

Nakashima can with Rune

Brandon Nakashima, the youngest American in the top-100 (20 years and 63rd in the world), went to the semifinals as second in group A, Carlos Alcaraz’s, after beating the Danish Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune (18 and 109th) by 3-4 (3), 4-1, 4-1 and 4-3 (1) in 1h38. Nakashima is the second North American to qualify for the tournament crosses after Frances Tiafoe, who did it in 2019 and lost to Australian Alex de Miñaur. Nakashima had beaten Argentine Juan Manuel Cerúndolo on the first day of the group stage and he depended on himself to advance in a direct duel for a playoff spot.

The first set was scored with a comeback Rune, but from there the tennis player of Japanese origin was superior, who committed only 16 unforced errors and he broke his rival’s serve six times, very aggressive (23 winners), but less precise than Nakashima. He will face Korda, that he took revenge for the defeat that Musetti had inflicted on him earlier this year in Lyon. The American only lost six points on his serve, giving his rival no break option.

Results and classifications.