Given their level of play heading into the Golden Swing, it’s no surprise that Luciano Darderi and Sebastian Baez clashed for second at the business end of the February tournament. This time they are fighting to enter the finals of the Chile Open on Saturday.
The head-to-head series is tied at 4-4, but Darderi has won their last three meetings – 6-0, 6-2 in the Bastad final last summer, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 at the recent Australian Open, and 7-6 (2), 6-1 earlier this month on the red clay of Buenos Aires.
Given those results in addition to Darderi’s blistering form from last season, he should once again have the edge in this game. He is 19-2 in his last 21 clay court matches, a stretch that includes two ATP titles and one victory on the Challenger Tour.
Pick: Darderi in 3
