RIO DE JANEIRO/STARNBERG, February 24, 2025
Sebastian Baez etched his name in Rio Open presented by Claro history on Sunday by becoming the first player to win the tournament twice in the singles draw. The Argentine defeated Frenchman Alexandre Muller in the final to claim his second consecutive ATP Tour 500 title in Rio de Janeiro.
The fifth seed delivered a flawless performance against Muller, securing a 6-2, 6-3 victory in one hour and 26 minutes. With this triumph, the 24-year-old clinched his sixth career title, adding to his previous Rio Open trophies and victories in Cordoba, Kitzbühel, Winston-Salem (2023), and Santiago (2024).
SPECIAL
The moment Sebastian Baez sealed his 7th career ATP title with another victory in Rio!#RioOpen pic.twitter.com/bSJG5smmub
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 23, 2025
After his win, Baez took a moment to acknowledge his coach, Sebastian Gutierrez (Guti), who had promised to tattoo the Christ the Redeemer statue if Baez won back-to-back titles. Reflecting on the challenges at the end of the 2024 season, Baez expressed gratitude and admiration for the city of Rio de Janeiro.
“There were difficult moments, but that’s how life is. Guti was always with me, pushing me to overcome them. Thank you, everyone! I love Rio!” said Báez.
His coach also spoke on court, praising Baez’s fighting spirit and confirming his tattoo commitment.
“Seba is incredible. He may not be the tallest, but his fighting spirit and level of play are amazing. Today, he showed that again. I promised if he reached the semis, I’d get a tattoo—now it’s going to be even bigger,” said Guti.
Baez received the champion’s trophy from Argentine tennis legend Juan Martin del Potro, a former World No. 3, adding a special touch to his historic achievement.
