CAMPINAS/STARNBERG, November 21, 2021
Thiago Monteiro and Sebastian Baez will compete in Sunday’s singles final of the 11th edition of the Campeonato Internacional de Tenis in Campinas, Brazil.
Home favourite and No. 4 seed Monteiro rallied from a set down to overcome Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. The 27-year-old Fortaleza native capitalized on three of his 14 break-point chances to secure victory in two hours and 39 minutes.
“I had a little slow start, I wasn’t feeling so comfortable and I made a lot of mistakes. Little by little I calmed down, playing more solidly, serving better and taking advantage of the chances that came up,” Monteiro said.
The World No. 94 will appear in his 11th final on the ATP Challenger Tour, seeking his seventh career title, his first on Brazilian soil and second of the season following his triumph at the Braga Open in Portugal.
“I’m very happy to play another final here in Brazil. I think my last one was five years ago (in Santos). Without a doubt, the fans have been giving me a lot of energy and motivating me a lot to go further,” said Monteiro.
Baez records 43rd match win in 2021
No. 7 seed Baez edged past fellow Argentine and No. 8 seed Francisco Cerundolo 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to reach his ninth final of the year. The 20-year-old from Buenos Aires outpointed his rival 98-80 and recorded his 43rd match win of the year after one hour and 56 minutes. World No. 111 Baez has become the player aged 20 and under with the most wins at Challenger level in one season. The World No. 111 surpassed US-American Frances Tiafoe (42 wins in 2016), and Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic (42 in 1995).
In October, Baez had already become the youngest in history to win five ATP Challenger tournaments in one season.
“Baez is very solid, he has a huge backhand and is having a great year. He showed a lot of consistency. I’m going to study a little what happened in the last matches and try to play a good final to get the title,” said Monteiro, who lost the only previous meeting with the Argentine in the ATP Challenger final in Buenos Aires in October.
Matos/Meligeni add another title
In other action, Rafael Matos and Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves captured the doubles title. In an-all Brazilian final, they beat their compatriots Gilbert Klier Junior and Matheus Pucinelli de Almeida 6-3, 6-1. The encounter lasted one hour and three minutes.
Matos and Meligeni claimed their second consecutive team title following their triumph at the Uruguay Open in Montevideo last Saturday. They split $3,100 in prize money and earned 80 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
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