Rio Open Title Is Fifth And Biggest One For Baez

Sebastian Baez, Rio Open, ATP Tour
Sebastian Baez (photo: Rio Open/Fotojump)

RIO DE JANEIRO/WASHINGTON, February 26, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

The 10th edition of the Rio Open presented by Claro singles final promised a 10th different champion as two Argentines, No. 5 seed Sebastian Baez and qualifier Mariano Navone, battled for the Golden Swing title on red clay in Rio de Janeiro Sunday evening.

Under summer-like conditions and with a 5,000-strong sell-out crowd filling Quadra Guga Kuerten at Jockey Club Brasileiro, the 23-year-old Baez performed solidly from first ball to last ball. The Buenos Aires native defeated the 113th-ranked Navone, 6-2, 6-1, in an hour and 22 minutes to win his first ATP 500 title – the biggest crown of his pro career.

The No. 30 Baez previously won four ATP 250 titles, three of them in 2023. Now, with his Rio Open prize, Baez has surpassed Diego Schwartzman for most tour-level titles among active Argentine players. En route, Baez scored victories over qualifier Corentin Moutet of France, Facundo Diaz Acosta of Argentina, wild card Thiago Monteiro of Brazil, No. 4 seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina and Navone.

“Amazing, amazing. All week I felt so good here in Rio. I said before, I liken [it to] home because of the crowd, the people, everything,” Baez said after improving to 12-5 in 2024. “In the preseason I did one week here, so I know this place, I know the people and I enjoyed [all my] time inside and outside the court.”

From the start of the title match, the more-experienced Baez asserted himself and parlayed a double-break lead into capturing the 42-minute opening set 6-2. He won on his second set-point opportunity after Navone netted a seven-shot backhand.

Soon, the second set played out much like the first with Baez garnering a 4-0 lead. Although Navone saved four break points during a 16-point fourth game, he was broken after he double-fisted a backhand return wide right that quashed a 17-shot rally.

From there, Navone got one of the breaks back, but it was too little too late. He was broken, again, and Baez, without hesitation, served out the set and the victory.

Baez won 58 percent of his return points, broke Navone six times in 14 opportunities and outpointed him 64-39. Throughout, he remained calm and focused.

“I think it’s so important because in your first final you’ll be more nervous, of course,” Baez said. “I think I did so well in the start in both sets, so I think that was the key.”

Baez became the second Argentinian singles champion in tournament history after Schwartzman won the 2018 title and the sixth ATP 500 champion from Argentina since the series began in 2009. He’s the first since Juan Martin del Potro won at Acapulco in 2018.

Although Navone, 22, came up short, the native of Nueve de Julio enjoyed a dream week in Rio. It began with him attaining his first ATP Tour main-draw win after coming through qualifying. Then, he knocked off defending champion Cameron Norrie in the semifinals for his first Top 25 triumph.

“I know it is a bit contradictory because I lost the final, but I won many other finals this week,” Navone said in his post-match news conference, smiling as he spoke. He is projected to move up to No. 60 in the new Pepperstone ATP Rankings Monday.

“I won the final of breaking into the top 100, I won the final of qualifying to my first ATP 500 tournament, I won the final of winning my first ATP Tour match, I made it to the quarterfinals, I defeated a top 25 player for the first time. …

“There were a lot of personal victories this week, I cannot complain,” he added.

As for Baez, he will climb to a career-high No. 21.

“Amazing, amazing,” he said. “But I want more for sure.”

Barrientos and Matos win Rio Open doubles title

Colombian Nicolas Barrientos and Rafael Matos of Brazil are an up-and-coming doubles team. After first teaming up in Brisbane at the start of the season, they’ve gone 11-5, including a semifinal finish a week ago in Buenos Aires.

On Sunday, Barrientos, 36, and Matos, 28, won their first ATP Tour final together. The Colombian/Brazilian duo defeated Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler of Austria, 6-4, 6-3, in an hour and 32 minutes. It was the first tour-level title for Barrientos and seventh for Matos.

The winners won 72 percent of the first-serve points and converted five of seven break points. Barrientos and Matos outpointed Erler and Miedler 61-46.

Matos is the first Brazilian to win a Rio Open title in singles or doubles in the 10-year history of the tournament. Prior to Sunday, Brazil was 0-4 in doubles finals in Rio.

“It’s such an honor to become the first Brazilian to win here in Rio. It’s very, very special. This 10th edition definitely deserved a local champion,” Matos said after winning his first ATP 500 title.

Barrientos, who became the first Colombian doubles winner since Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah won in 2014 and 2016, said: “It was indescribable to play with such an atmosphere. It was my first time playing here in Rio and I want to come back here every year until I retire.”

Around the Jockey Club Brasileiro

Among tennis dignitaries sitting court side and taking part in them trophy ceremony were Brazilian Hall of Famer Gustavo Kuerten and 2015 Rio Open champion David Ferrer of Spain.

By the numbers

Sunday’s Rio Open final between Sebastian Baez and Mariano Navone was the 30th all-Argentine final in Open Era and the first since Baez defeated Federico Coria in the Cordoba final last year.

“Quotable …”

“It was exactly what we were expecting. We had a record audience, had a Brazilian qualifying to the main draw for the first time in singles’ and doubles’, we had five Brazilian playing the main draw and three in the quarterfinals.

“We also saw countless emotional moments on court, especially with João Fonseca, who became a sensation not only in Brazil but also worldwide. I also think that the world finally noticed how the atmosphere here in Rio is special. There might be bigger and most important arenas around the world, but we are better than everybody when it comes to atmosphere.”

— Luiz Carvalho, Rio Open tournament, during a news conference Sunday prior to the singles final.

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