Spoiler:
French qualifier Corentin Moutet crushed local hopes of an all-Chilean top-half semi-final with a stunning upset of top seed and defending champion Nicolas Jarry in two tie-breaks at the Movistar Chilean Open in Santiago Friday night.
Coming into the tournament as World No. 140 in the PIF ATP Rankings and winless at ATP Tour level this season, Moutet largely nullified Jarry's first serve and took advantage of an error-prone display from his opponent in the backcourt to win 7-6(5), 7-6(3). He next will face another Chilean, fourth seed Alejandro Tabilo, who defeated Italian Luciano Darderi 6-0, 7-5.
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The left-hander showed great heart in both sets, breaking when Jarry served for the first set at 5-4 and later rallying from 2-5 in the second set to force another tie-break. When he claimed the first mini break in the tie-break with a stunning down-the-line backhand winner from deep behind the baseline that cleaned the line, the Frenchman's brilliance was met with deathly silence from the crowd.
Moutet advance to just his fourth career semi-final, his first on clay and first since Adelaide in January 2022. Moutet fell in qualifying in Cordoba and Buenos Aires before winning through to the main draw in Rio de Janeiro, where he lost in the first round to eventual champion Sebastian Baez.
Coming into the tournament as World No. 140 in the PIF ATP Rankings and winless at ATP Tour level this season, Moutet largely nullified Jarry's first serve and took advantage of an error-prone display from his opponent in the backcourt to win 7-6(5), 7-6(3). He next will face another Chilean, fourth seed Alejandro Tabilo, who defeated Italian Luciano Darderi 6-0, 7-5.
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The left-hander showed great heart in both sets, breaking when Jarry served for the first set at 5-4 and later rallying from 2-5 in the second set to force another tie-break. When he claimed the first mini break in the tie-break with a stunning down-the-line backhand winner from deep behind the baseline that cleaned the line, the Frenchman's brilliance was met with deathly silence from the crowd.
Moutet advance to just his fourth career semi-final, his first on clay and first since Adelaide in January 2022. Moutet fell in qualifying in Cordoba and Buenos Aires before winning through to the main draw in Rio de Janeiro, where he lost in the first round to eventual champion Sebastian Baez.
