Sebastián Báez beat his compatriot Mariano Navone 6-2, 6-1 in the final of the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro and became champion of the Brazilian tournament in an hour and a half of play. Since 2018, an Argentine has not won a tournament of that category.
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During the first half hour of play, Báez completely dominated Navone and sealed the set by winning four consecutive games. In a total of 43 minutes, she took the set 6-2. In the second set he repeated his good game and took the match and the title.
Báez and Navone starred in the first final of an ATP 500 between two Argentines. (Photo: EFE)
This final of the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro wrote a new page for Argentine tennis since it was the first time that two local tennis players faced each other to win a tournament of this magnitude, that is, third in the order of importance after of the Grand Slam and the Masters 1000.
Along the way, Báez, currently ranked No. 30 in the world, eliminated Argentine Francisco CerÃondolo, local Thiago Monteiro, compatriot Facundo DÃaz Acosta and Frenchman Corentin Moutet. For his part, Navone did his own thing with Cameron Norrie, Federico Coria, Yannick Hanfmann and João Fonseca.
As of Monday, the Argentine who reached his fifth consecration in singles will be number 21 in the world, located just one step behind Cerúndolo, who is the best albiceleste and is in position 20.
Juan Martín Del Potro, the last precedent of an Argentine champion in an ATP 500 tournament
The last time an Argentine won an ATP 500 tournament was in Acapulco 2018, when Juan MartÃn Del Potro established himself in the Mexican city. The Tandil native triumphed in the final against South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-4.
Del Potro was the last Argentine to win an ATP 500. It was in Acapulco in 2018. (Photo: AFP)
At that time, this title – the 21st of his career as a professional tennis player – earned Delpo a position in eighth place in the world ranking. Years later, in January 2022, he played his last game as a professional. It was in the first round of the ATP in Buenos Aires, where he fell to the Argentine Federico Delbonis.
2024-02-25 23:36:09
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