ZAGREB, May 16, 2021
#NextGenATP Argentine Sebastian Baez clinched his third title of the season by winning the Zagreb Open, hosted by the Tenis Centar “Maksimir” in Zagreb, Croatia. The 20-year-old qualifier rallied from a set down to overcome last week’s Biella champion Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 in Saturday’s singles final of the €44,820 ATP Challenger clay-court tournament.
Baez battled through the bottom half of the main draw, beating Indian qualifier Ramkumar Ramanathan, Pedro Martinez of Spain and Chilean qualifier Marcelo Tomas Barrios en-route to the championship match.
Baez won 81 per cent of his first-service points in the final and capitalized on five of his six break-point chances to prevail after two hours and six minutes.
THREE titles in 2021 🔥🔥@Seba_baez7 is the champion in Zagreb! From a set down, the 🇦🇷 battles back to defeat Varillas 36 63 61 for the 🏆. pic.twitter.com/0wSb5zTX5U
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 15, 2021
“It has been an amazing week for me,” Baez told Borna Mohac from the tournament’s media team after the final. “I lost a couple of first sets during the week but in the end I came out as the winner and I am very happy. Now it’s time to prepare for Roland Garros.”
After lifting the trophies in Santiago and Concepcion in Chile earlier in the year, Baez pocketed €6,190 in prize money as well as 80 ATP Ranking points. The youngster is projected to reach a new career-high ranking of World No. 183 on Monday. Baez has also become the youngest Argentine to win three titles in a season since Guillermo Coria in 2000.
King/Reese take doubles title
Later in the day, Evan King and Hunter Reese took the doubles title. The No. 3 seed from the United States defeated the tournament’s top favourites Andrey Golubev and Alexandr Nedovyesov of Kazakhstan 6-2, 7-6(4). The final lasted one hour and 24 minutes.
King and Reese split €2,670 in prize money and earned 80 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
“We almost lost first round, we almost lost second round and we almost lost third round.”
In the end ➡️ 🏆🏆@VolReese & @EvanKingChicago survive in Zagreb for their fourth team title. pic.twitter.com/OlCbhibYaZ
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 15, 2021
