Almagro Chases Second Consecutive Title; Chela Notches Milestone

© Copa ClaroNicolas Almagro is chasing two titles in as many weeks after last week's victory in Costa do Sauipe.

Spanish top seed Nicolas Almagro is chasing back-to-back ATP World Tour titles after ousting compatriot Tommy Robredo in the semi-finals of the Copa Claro in Buenos Aires 7-5, 6-1. In the final, Almagro will face Argentine eighth seed Juan Ignacio Chela, who upset Swiss second seed Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 6-2. Earlier in the day, Chela notched his 300th match win against Albert Montanes.

After rain wreaked havoc on the tournament Friday, Almagro was also forced to pull double duty Saturday, beating Argentine Jose Acasuso 7-5, 6-3 in the quarter-finals before backing up to beat Robredo. Robredo wasn’t allowed a single break point opportunity in the match as Almagro served five aces to Robredo’s three and lost only three points on his first serve.

Almagro said: “It's very special to win two important matches the same day. Now I want to enjoy a little bit and then get prepared for tomorrow's final.

“Tommy is one of the best players on clay courts and I knew it would be complicated because he was confident after winning Santiago. I could play incredible at some points in the match and that got me here to the final.”

Almagro improved his head-to-head record with Robredo to 3-0, having won their two previous meetings and extended his winning streak to eight victories following his ATP World Tour title at the Brasil Open in Costa do Sauipe last week (d. Dolgopolov).

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After rain washed out most of the day’s play on Friday at the Copa Claro, all four quarter-finals were completed on Saturday, with the victors heading back out for semi-finals later in the day.

Chela's quarter-final against fourth seed Albert Montanes had been suspended overnight at 3-3 in the third set. But the Argentine came out firing Saturday, winning the final three games of the match to finish off Montanes. Victory marked the 31-year-old Chela’s 300th tour-level match win and earned him a place in the Buenos Aires semi-finals for the third time.

After dropping just four games against Wawrinka in the semi-finals later in the day, Chela said: "It's my first final at Buenos Aires, I don't have words... I'm very happy but I still need to go one more step to make a perfect week.

"I've waited 11 years for this moment, since I played the tournament for the first time. Each day I've been feeling better, improving a little bit more and I hope to repeat this in tomorrow's final."

Top seed  Almagro won his seventh successive match as he defeated Argentine wild card Acasuso 7-5, 6-3. The Spaniard converted four of his eight break point opportunities to clinch victory in 85 minutes while countryman Robredo also overcame Argentine opposition with a 6-4, 6-4 win over third seed and 2008 champion David Nalbandian. Robredo, who lifted the Buenos Aires trophy on his last event appearance in 2009 (d. Monaco), broke serve three times to end a run of three successive defeats to Nalbandian.

Second-seeded Wawrinka continued to impress on his debut in Buenos Aires, dealing defeat to a third Argentine contender with a 7-5, 6-3 win over fifth seed Juan Monaco. Crucially, the No. 15-ranked Wawrinka saved 11 of 13 break points as he sealed victory in just over two hours. The 25 year old has made a strong start to the season, winning his third ATP World Tour title in Chennai (d. Malisse) and reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open (l. to Federer); he improved to a 12-1 mark.