Sebastián Báez made history this Sunday. It was that the Buenos Aires native just finished the week of his life by defeating Frances Tiafoe in the Estoril final by 6-3 and 6-2 and earning the first ATP of his career.

Báez, who until this week was ranked 51st in the ATP rankings, defeated the American, who seeded fifth in the tournament, in an hour and 14 minutes and this Monday he will appear for the first time among the best that’s 50 players on the planet. Because he will climb to 40th place and remain third in the highest ranking Argentine, behind Diego Schwartzman and Federico Delbonis.

The 21-year-old from Buenos Aires and one of the Argentine NextGen’s best rackets, had to row it from behind in the first set. Because Tiafoe, who was looking for his second crown after he won in 2018 at Delray Beach, surprised him in the first game and stole his serve, which eventually led to 2-0.

Baez’s reaction didn’t take long. He regained the break in the fourth game and made another in the sixth to take the lead (4-2) that would allow him to close out the opening set shortly after.

In the second set, which started more evenly, the Argentine was only able to unbalance the score in the fifth game, but scored two consecutive breaks (in that game and in the seventh) to stay 5-2 up. And, with the title, he did not hesitate and sealed success in his ministry.

“Why not me?” (Why not me?) The Argentine wrote on the camera lens after each of the wins that brought him to the final of the tournament, the second for him after he played in February in Santiago de Chile (he lost to Spain Pedro Martínez). After defeating Tiafoe, he signed his official presentation on the world’s largest tennis circuit with a “Yes, it’s me!” (Yes, it is me).

The victory put an end to an impeccable week for Báez, who on his way to the title beat rivals of great hierarchy and more experience than him. After a solid debut against Portuguese Joao Sousa, 33 years old and from qualy; He overcame a one-set deficit (1-6) against Croatian Marin Cilic, former world number three and 2014 US Open champion in the second round.

He started again from behind to beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet, another former top 10 player, 35, and owner of 15 ATP trophies, in the quarterfinals in third. And in the semis, he got his third win this season against Spaniard Albert Ramos Viñolas, 31st in the ranking, whom he has already lost to Australia and Santiago.

“I really enjoyed this week. And I’m proud of what I’ve achieved,” Báez said at the awards ceremony, shortly after celebrating the dedication with his lifelong coach, Sebastián Gutiérrez, to the rhythm of the classic “Dale champion , dale. ” champion ”with a very Argentinian accent.

“Thanks for everyone’s support and hopefully I can come back next year,” he added. And he dedicated a few words to his rival: “Frances, you’re an inspiration. Why not me and why not you?”

That dedication has a reason for being. This is the phrase Sebastián wrote on camera after his expensive victory is the same that the American always carried on a bracelet.

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