Sebastián Báez, ATP 500 champion in Rio de Janeiro in an exhibition against Mariano Navone

Sebastiano Baez won his biggest title on the professional tennis circuit, being crowned champion of the ATP 500 in Rio Janeiro in the Argentine final against Mariano Navone, who he beat 6-2 and 6-1. At 23, the winner took his fifth championshipgiven that he had established himself in four ATP 250s: Estoril 2022 and Winston-Salem, Kitzbühel and Córdoba 2023.

There were no equivalences between the fifth seed of the tournament and Navone, who played the first final of his professional career after the best week of his life, as in the semi-final he achieved his first victory against a top 50, defeating the English Cameron Norrie.

Since the Open era of tennis, in April 1968, Argentina accumulates 234 titles on the ATP circuit, making it the fifth most successful country. The United States leads the ranking with 1,057 consecrations, followed by Spain (438), Australia (289) and Sweden (276).

Báez had just got rid of 7-5 and 6-0 in the semifinals Francisco Cerúndolowho was very close in the world ranking, in the fight to be the best Argentine tennis player in the ranking.

That’s it Fran He is 20th with 1,840 points, Báez is 21st, the best placing of his career, with 1,825. “Incredible, but I want more,” said the champion. Tomás Etcheverry follows in 27th place.

On the main field of the Jockey Club, called Guga Kuerten, present and greeted by a standing ovation from the crowd, Báez kicked off the final with a devastating 4-0. Navone reacts with a break and serves for 4-2, but from then on the champion is a steamroller. First he won the remaining two games of the first set to lead 6-2 and then he broke twice to lead 4-0 in the second.

Navone didn’t want to go to love and broke Báez in the fifth game for 4-1, but it was his last effort. It was Sunday for the Buenos Aires native, who won his fifth title.

Both tennis players are registered to play this week in ATP250SantiagoChile, where Navone will make his debut against the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas. The curious thing is that the winner of that match will face second-seeded Báez in the round of 16.