Baez defies history and height to reach Melbourne second round

Argentine Sebastian Baez, 25, delivered a statement of intent on Tuesday night, overcoming both a physical giant and his own psychological hurdles to defeat Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 22, in a five-set thriller. Ranked world No. 36, Baez secured the 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3 victory after nearly four hours on court. The win sets up a second-round clash with the 22nd seed, Luciano Darderi, 23, who earlier advanced past Cristian Garin.

The match was a striking visual spectacle, highlighting one of the largest physical disparities on the tour. Baez, standing at 170 cm (5’7″), was tasked with neutralizing the serve of the 203 cm (6’8″) Mpetshi Perricard. Despite the 33 cm (over 1 foot) height difference, Baez’s superior movement and return game allowed him to break the Frenchman’s booming serve in the critical moments of the final set.

Baez’s ghosts

Beyond the physical challenge, Baez had to battle the “ghosts” of his past performances. Twice before in his career, the Argentine had held a two-set-to-love lead only to lose in five sets (against Yannick Hanfmann at Roland Garros 2023 and Arthur Rinderknech at Wimbledon 2024).

When Mpetshi Perricard erased his two-set lead on Tuesday, many feared a repeat of those collapses. However, the “2026 version” of Baez showed a new level of mental fortitude, resisting the pressure to close out the match.

The victory also highlights a remarkable transformation in Baez’s hardcourt form. After a dismal 2025 season on the surface, where he managed to win just three hardcourt matches all year, he has started 2026 with a 7-1 record on hard courts. This run includes two top-ten wins and a finals appearance in Auckland, proving that the former clay-court specialist has finally found the formula for success on the faster Melbourne courts.

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