BUENOS AIRES/STARNBERG, September 27, 2025

The YPF Buenos Aires Challenger presented by La Roche–Posay is guaranteed at least one Argentine finalist after Nicolas Kicker and Roman Burruchaga both advanced to the semifinals at the Racket Club in Palermo. The ATP Challenger event, held from September 21 to 28, could even end with an all-Argentine championship match if Alex Barrena overcomes Ecuador’s Alvaro Guillen Meza in the other semifinal.

Kicker (ATP No. 299), the only past champion competing in the 10th edition of the tournament, continues to ride a wave of form. The 33-year-old from Merlo, who lifted the trophy in 2017 after a dramatic final against compatriot Horacio Zeballos, left no doubt in his quarterfinal with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 win over Peru’s Gonzalo Bueno. Kicker, playing his third Challenger semifinal of the year, is eyeing his first title since Villa Maria 2022.

Así selló Nico Kicker su clasificación a las semifinales del YPF Buenos Aires Challenger pic.twitter.com/mBfbxiY1kg

— Buenos Aires Challenger (@ChallengerBA) September 26, 2025

His opponent will be sixth seed Burruchaga (No. 144), the only seeded player still standing, who has yet to drop a set en route to his first semifinal in Buenos Aires. The 23-year-old from Buenos Aires, enjoying a breakout season that already saw him reach his first ATP quarterfinal in Gstaad, dominated the opening set 6-1 against Genaro Olivieri and held off two deficits in the second before sealing the win in a tiebreak.

¡Directo a semis!

Román Burruchaga se metió entre los cuatro mejores tras eliminar 6-1 y 7-6 (6) a Genaro Olivieri

Siguiente rival: Nicolás Kicker pic.twitter.com/OThoCOUDEz

— Buenos Aires Challenger (@ChallengerBA) September 27, 2025

On the other side of the draw, Alex Barrena (No. 188) booked his sixth Challenger semifinal of the season after a marathon nearly three-hour win over fellow Argentine Guido Justo. Spurred on by a partisan crowd, the 22-year-old from Adrogué overturned a 6-2, 4-3 (with serve) deficit, produced a sparkling tiebreak to force a third set, then broke seven times overall to clinch it 6-3. Barrena will be looking to improve on his career-high live ranking of No. 181.

His opponent, Alvaro Guilleb Meza (No. 226), showed similar resilience. The 22-year-old Ecuadorian, who saved match point in his opening round against Hady Habib, rallied from a one-set deficit to beat Brazil’s Matheus Pucinelli de Almeida 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 and reach his first Challenger semifinal since winning his third career title in Santos, Brazil, in May. Guillen Meza converted seven of 12 break points in the comeback.

FRIDAY RESULTS

Singles Quarterfinal 
(6) Román Andrés Burruchaga (ARG) d. Genaro Alberto Olivieri (ARG) 6-1, 7-6(6)
ALT Nicolás Kicker (ARG) d. Gonzalo Bueno (PER) 6-2, 6-2
Alex Barrena (ARG) d. WC Guido Iván Justo (ARG) 6-2, 6-7(1), 6-3
Álvaro Guillén Meza (ECU) d. ALT Matheus Pucinelli de Almeida (BRA) 1-6, 6-4, 6-4

Doubles Semifinal
Pedro Boscardin Dias (BRA) / Joao Lucas Reis da Silva (BRA) d. Francesco Maestrelli (ITA) / Bruno Oliveira (BRA) 6-2, 6-2
Guillermo Durán (ARG) / Mariano Kestelboim (ARG) d. Alex Barrena (ARG) / Hernan Casanova (ARG) w/o