Baez reaches biggest ATP Tour final in Rio de Janeiro

Sebastian Baez stared down three set points at 4-5 in the opening set on Saturday at the Rio Open presented by Claro. He saved each one under pressure from countryman Francisco Cerundolo and did not lose another game en route to a 7-5, 6-0 victory at the ATP 500.

Baez's nine-game tear earned him the win in his first semi-final above ATP 250 level. He will play for his fifth and biggest tour-level title on Sunday against Argentine qualifier Mariano Navone.

While Baez twice beat Cerundolo on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2021, Saturday's win was his first in the pair's Lexus ATP Head2Head series, which is now level at 1-1.

"We know each other too much, I think more than I want," Baez joked after the win. "All matches are different. Today it's going to my side. In the first set, I gave many break points to him. I had to take it because it's so hard for both."

His 😃 says it all. @sebaabaez7 is into the BIGGEST final of his career! 👏 @RioOpenOficial | #RioOpen10Anos pic.twitter.com/IyUUC1swFA

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 24, 2024

After an early trade of breaks, Baez saved six consecutive break points in the one-hour, 24-minute match. He converted on four of his seven break chances and won more than half of his return points, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

"It's hard but I always try to be focussed on the next point, on the next game, every time thinking about my game and what I have to do," Baez said of his surge through the finish line.

Cerundolo, who was also bidding to reach his first final above the ATP 250 level, struggled with 39 unforced errors, including 26 off his backhand wing. Despite the loss, he will return to the Top 20 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday.

Baez is up seven places to No. 23 this week in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, setting himself up for a career high. He could move up to No. 21 with the Rio title.

In Saturday's second semi-final, Navone continued his dream week with a 6-4, 6-2 win against a physically struggling Cameron Norrie. After picking up his first tour-level victory earlier this week, the 22-year-old Argentine scored the biggest result of his career by knocking out the second seed and defending champion.

While Norrie struggled with his breathing throughout the match and received visits from the physiotherapist and tournament doctor, he fought until the last ball and made Navone earn the victory.

By beating his first Top 50 opponent, Navone became the first qualifier to reach an ATP 500 final since Jiri Vesely accomplished the feat in Dubai in 2022.

"It was incredible," he said post-match. "It's a pleasure to play here in Rio, my first ATP 500. I'm very happy to make the final, my first final. I played so good all week and I hope [to win] the title tomorrow."

Did You Know?
For the second time in three weeks, a trio of Argentines reached the semi-finals at the same ATP Tour event. Two weeks before Cerundolo, Baez and Navone reached the Rio semis, Baez, Facundo Bagnis and Federico Coria reached the last four on home soil in Cordoba.

The last time three Argentines reached the semis above the ATP 250 level was in Stuttgart in 2008, when Juan Martin del Potro, Agustin Calleri and Eduardo Schwank reached that stage.