photo credit: Rio Open Facebook
Sebastian Baez made history as two-time Rio Ruler—and reinforced his reputation as a champion closer.
Defending champion Baez dismantled Alexandre Muller 6-2, 6-3 in today’s Rio Open final becoming the first man in history to win multiple Rio championships.
“I’m so proud for all the week, for the last few months as well because it was tough for me,” Baez said in his on-court interview. “So I’m happy.”
t was Baez’s 10th consecutive Rio Open victory and seventh career championship.
The 5’7” Buenos Aires-born baseliner is a towering competitor in finals. Baez has now won six consecutive finals in raising his finals record to an impressive 7-2.
What makes Baez so formidable in finals?
The 24-year-old Baez says he goes back to basics and just tries to win each point.
“I’m trying to give my best like every point,” Baez said. “Of course the finals are different because you Want to in the tournament, the title, the trophy. But I’m trying to be focused on the game and that’s the most difficult part of the final. And I think the support of my team and my coach is most important to me.”
Since the start of the 2022 season, Baez leads the ATP for most clay-court wins with a 73-36 record and six titles on dirt in that span ahead of Casper Ruud (71-22) and Carlos Alcaraz (69-11) in that span.
Setting the tone for his ball-control attack, Baez worked the ball corner-to-corner breaking first for a 2-1 lead.
The Argentinean staved off three break points to back up the break for 3-1.
Baez broke again for 5-2 and ran off six straight points to snatch a one-set lead with the first love hold of the match.
Credit Muller, who beat Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca in the first round then knocked off three Argentineans in a row to reach the final, for fighting back with a love hold to start the second set.
The pair traded breaks early in the set. Then Baez began spreading the court. Baez drew a netted backhand to break in the seventh game. Baez breezed through a strong hold at 15 for 5-3.
The fifth-seeded Baez converted his second championship point to seal his seventh title.