Argentine Sebastian Baez will face Czech Jiri Lehecka in the final of the ATP Winston-Salem Open on Saturday after he battled to a three sets win over Croatian top seed Borna Coric on Friday.
Baez needed three hours and 19 minutes to earn his spot in his first tour-level hard court final with a 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2) victory.
The match was a preview of the pair's first round meeting in the US Open next week and the 22-year-old Baez began in dominant fashion, dropping just one point off his serve in the opening set.
Baez was in charge at 3-1 up in the second but had to visit the physio after suffering a nosebleed and was then promptly broken as Coric fought back to take the contest to a third set.
But the 22-year-old Baez held firm to collect his ninth straight win as he looks to add to his ATP 250 victory in Kitzbuehel last month.
Brilliant Baez ?????
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 26, 2023
Sebastian Baez digs deep to fend off Coric in an absolute marathon to reach the final in Winston-Salem!@WSOpen pic.twitter.com/bqRvKrgz7l
The Argentine conceded he had struggled after his medical break.
"I think at that time, the match changed. Every point, he was better than me. After three hours, I think I have to take a rest and be focussed on tomorrow. I am happy but I have one more match," he said.
Lehecka reached the final after third-seeded American Sebastian Korda withdrew with an ankle injury picked up in his quarterfinal win on Thursday against Richard Gasquet.