3 minutes While it's true that only four of the top 50 players are participating here, there's plenty of talent on this surface, and winning the title will be a challenging feat.
It's an exciting time for tennis fans as the tour ventures into the world of high-altitude competition this week, making its first stop in Cordoba for the start of the South American 'Golden Swing' on clay courts. February always brings out the best in dirtballers; this event is no exception.
While it's true that only four of the top 50 players are participating here, there's plenty of talent on this surface, and winning the title will be a challenging feat.
If you've been following our previews, you'll know that we always take the altitude factor seriously. The tennis balls tend to behave differently at higher altitudes, with increased "flight." This can favour power-hitters and big servers, but what truly matters is a player's ability to control the ball and adjust their shot weight to the conditions. It's easy to hit the ball long at altitude.
When it comes to such events, it's crucial to identify players with a strong track record at high altitudes, and we have a couple of contenders who fit the bill in Cordoba, which sits over 400 meters above sea level.
First up is Albert Ramos-Vinolas, a seasoned Spanish player who has previously delivered in altitude events, including a victory right here in 2022. Ramos-Vinolas has a remarkable record at high altitudes, with two of his four career titles and eight of his 12 finals in such conditions. If anyone can be considered an altitude specialist, it's him. With his past success in Cordoba, we expect him to adapt well to the conditions, which may not be true for some higher-seeded players.
Albert Ramos-Vonolas' ATP Finals
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Apr 2012 | Grand Prix Hassan II, Morocco | 250 Series | Clay | Spain Pablo Andújar | 1–6, 6–7(5–7) |
| Win | 1–1 | Jul 2016 | Swedish Open, Sweden | 250 Series | Clay | Spain Fernando Verdasco | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1–2 | Oct 2016 | Chengdu Open, China | 250 Series | Hard | Russia Karen Khachanov | 7–6(7–4), 6–7(3–7), 3–6 |
| Loss | 1–3 | Mar 2017 | Brasil Open, Brazil | 250 Series | Clay | Uruguay Pablo Cuevas | 7–6(7–3), 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1–4 | Apr 2017 | Monte-Carlo Masters, Monaco | Masters 1000 | Clay | Spain Rafael Nadal | 1–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 1–5 | Feb 2018 | Ecuador Open, Ecuador | 250 Series | Clay | Spain Roberto Carballés Baena | 3–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
| Win | 2–5 | Jul 2019 | Gstaad, Switzerland | 250 Series | Clay | Germany Cedrik-Marcel Stebe | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Loss | 2–6 | Jul 2019 | Austrian Open, Austria | 250 Series | Clay | Austria Dominic Thiem | 6–7(0–7), 1–6 |
| Loss | 2–7 | Feb 2021 | Córdoba Open, Argentina | 250 Series | Clay | Argentina Juan Manuel Cerúndolo | 0–6, 6–2, 2–6 |
| Win | 3–7 | May 2021 | Estoril Open, Portugal | 250 Series | Clay | United Kingdom Cameron Norrie | 4–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–3) |
| Win | 4–7 | Feb 2022 | Córdoba Open, Argentina | 250 Series | Clay | Chile Alejandro Tabilo | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 4–8 | Jul 2023 | Gstaad, Switzerland | 250 Series | Clay | Argentina Pedro Cachin | 6–3, 0–6, 5–7 |
Speaking of the top seeds, Francisco Cerundolo, Sebastian Baez (the defending champion), and Tomas Etcheverry, all representing Argentina, are coming to Cordoba directly from Davis Cup duty at sea level in Rosario. The abrupt change in conditions could pose a challenge for them, and despite potential first-round byes, they might not be the best bets.
Top Seeds
| Seed | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇦🇷 Francisco Cerúndolo | Argentina |
| 2 | 🇦🇷 Sebastián Báez | Argentina |
| 3 | 🇦🇷 Tomás Martín Etcheverry | Argentina |
| 4 | 🇦🇹 Sebastian Ofner | Austria |
| 5 | 🇩🇪 Daniel Altmaier | Germany |
| 6 | 🇨🇱 Alejandro Tabilo (withdrawn) | Chile |
| 7 | 🇩🇪 Yannick Hanfmann | Germany |
| 8 | 🇪🇸 Roberto Carballés Baena | Spain |
In addition to Ramos-Vinolas, we're putting our faith in ALEJANDRO TABILO, the Chilean player who lost to Ramos-Vinolas in the 2022 final here. Tabilo should have an advantage as he spent the weekend in Santiago representing Chile in the Davis Cup, winning the decisive rubber. Moreover, his recent form is impressive, with 22 wins in his last 25 matches. Tabilo secured his first ATP title in Auckland last month, demonstrating solid clay court skills.
Considering his excellent form and ability to adapt to altitude conditions, Tabilo is a valuable choice at 14/1 odds. He shares a quarter of the draw with Baez and faces Sebastian Ofner, who comes from indoor hardcourts in Ireland, which is not an ideal transition.
All things considered, it's a good time to keep an eye on Ramos-Vinolas and Tabilo as they embark on their altitude adventure in Cordoba.
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