CORDOBA/STARNBERG, March 9, 2025
The Cordoba Lawn Tennis Club will host the highly anticipated final of the AAT Challenger Santander Cordoba this Sunday, featuring Thiago Tirante and Juan Pablo Ficovich, both from Argentina.
Saturday’s matches were delayed due to heavy rain in Cordoba, which forced the tournament’s court keepers to work extensively on Centre Court. Despite the challenging conditions, both semi-finals were completed, ensuring an all-Argentine lineup in the final.
In the first semi-final, World No. 134 Tirante, the tournament’s fourth seed, defeated Juan Manuel Cerundolo in a match that ended prematurely due to injury. Tirante was leading 6-4, 4-3 when Cerundolo was forced to retire with a right leg injury.
Tirante, 23, has already claimed four ATP Challenger titles in Ambato (2021), Morelos and Bogota (2023), as well as in Mexico City (2024), but is now aiming for his first title on home soil.
“I’m really happy to reach my first final in Argentina,” Tirante said. “Playing in your home country always comes with extra pressure, but today I was able to play at a high level. Juan Manuel is my best friend in tennis; we’ve known each other since we were kids, and it wasn’t the ideal way to finish the match. The final will be tough; Juampi is playing very well, and we both have offensive styles. The player who handles the pressure better will win.”
The second semi-final saw World No. 169 Ficovich take down Federico Coria in straight sets, 7-6(2), 6-3. Ficovich, from Berazategui, Buenos Aires, displayed great patience and resilience, overcoming a 3-5 deficit in the first set before securing the win with two key break points in the second.
Juan Pablo Ficovich va por el título @juampificovich superó a Federico Coria por 7-6 (2) y 6-3 y jugará la final del AAT Challenger Santander Córdoba contra Thiago Tirante pic.twitter.com/wWVRKnEukT
— Asociación Argentina de Tenis (@AATenis) March 8, 2025
The 28-year-old has enjoyed success on the ATP Challenger Tour, with titles in Bogota (2023), Recife, and Cali (2024). Like Tirante, he is also chasing his first title in Argentina.
“I’m really happy,” Ficovich said after the match. “It was a tough match; Fede has beaten me most of the time. The court conditions were different today—heavier and slower—so we had to adapt. Hopefully, I can take the final step tomorrow against Thiago; it’s going to be another battle.”
Tirante and Ficovich have faced each other three times on the ATP Challenger Tour, with Tirante leading the series 2-1. Their most recent meeting was at the Mexico City Challenger (2024), where Tirante won in straight sets.
Nos encanta tener las tribunas llenas en los torneos en casa
Este domingo los esperamos para la gran final del AAT Challenger Santander Córdoba entre Thiago Tirante y Juan Pablo Ficovich
Comprá tu entrada: https://t.co/cV4PSXKhp4 pic.twitter.com/bV7ibp7hKQ
— Asociación Argentina de Tenis (@AATenis) March 8, 2025
SATURDAY RESULTS
Singles – Semifinals
[4] [WC] T. Tirante (ARG) d [2] J. Cerundolo (ARG) 64 43 Retired
[7] J. Ficovich (ARG) d [6] F. Coria (ARG) 76(2) 63
Doubles – Finals
[3] K. Drzewiecki (POL)/P. Matuszewski (POL) d [4] F. Romboli (BRA)/M. Soto (CHI) 64 64
