Argentines Face Off in Men’s Final

Bring on Argentina.

There have been all-Spanish men’s finals, an all-Belgian women’s final, an all-Williams family final and on Saturday, an all-Russian women’s final at the French Open.

Now it’s time for Argentina: Third-seeded Guillermo Coria will play unseeded Gaston Gaudio today in the men’s final at Roland Garros. It will be a historic Grand Slam moment for the South American country.

Coria has lost one set in six matches, to Tim Henman in the semifinals. Gaudio struggled early, going five sets in his first two matches and needing four in his third. Since then, he has not lost a set.

In four meetings, Coria has lost to Gaudio once, on clay in Buenos Aires in 2001. They have had their tense moments, too, resulting in a locker room altercation after Coria defeated Gaudio last year in Hamburg, Germany. They have not played since then.

They are vying to become the first Argentine to win the French Open since Guillermo Vilas in 1977.

-- Lisa Dillman