Roberto Carballes Baena is one win away from his third ATP Tour title…

The 31-year-old Spanish tennis player and the tournament’s defending champion advanced to the final of the Marrakech Open by defeating Russia’s Pavel Kotov in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, at Royal Tennis Club de Marrakech.

Carballes Baena, ranked No 64, will play the Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, who defeated Argentina’s Mariano Navone, the No 7 seed.

In the previous rounds of the Marrakech tournament, Carballes Baena won against Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante (6-2, 2-0 ret.), No 3 seed Daniel Evans (6-4, 7-6 (3)) and American qualifier Nicolas Moreno De Alboran (6-4, 4-6, 6-4).

Kotov, ranked No 68, beat Moroccan wildcard Elliot Benchetrit (7-5, 6-3), Italian Flavio Cobolli, the No 8 seed (6-1, 7-6 (5)) and Italian qualifier Fabio Fognini (6-1, 6-2) earlier in the tournament.

Carballes Baena previously claimed the 2018 Ecuador Open and 2023 Grand Prix Hassan II titles.