Defending champion Baez moves into final in Rio

Sebastian Baez was the only seed remaining in the Rio draw as the semi-finals kicked off on Saturday, but it was Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli who played like the more accomplished player in the opening set. The 25-year-old Lucky Loser, ranked 91, raced through six of the final seven games to take it 6-3. 

Suddenly he was one set from his first career final, and controlling the run of play against the defending champ. 

But that opening set would be his compatriot’s wake-up call. 

Fifth-seeded Baez went on the attack after dropping the opening set, putting Ugo Carabelli on the back foot and completely changing the tone of the tension. He reeled off 12 of the final 14 games to book 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 win and take his place in the final for the second consecutive year. 

“I’m so proud, because the last weeks were tough for me,” Baez said. “I had to recover my body, my mind and my tennis – I’m so happy to be in a new final here in Rio, it’s so special.” 

The defending champion stretches his Rio Open winning streak to nine matches and sets a final with either Alexandre Muller or Francisco Comesana. 

Baez finished with 26 winners to just eight for Ugo Carabelli, with each player committing 29 unforced errors. He did not face a break point in the second or third set. 

The 24-year-old is now the third player to reach multiple Rio finals, along with Diego Schwartzman and Carlos Alcaraz, and he will bid to be the first player to win multiple titles at the tournament on Sunday. 

Ugo Carabelli’s week was a successful one despite Saturday’s loss. He is the second Lucky Loser to ever reach the semi-finals in Rio, and he is projected to rise 22 spots in the ranking to career-high 69 on Monday. 

31st-ranked Baez improves to 11-2 lifetime at Rio and 5-3 on the season with the win. He’ll bid for his seventh career title tomorrow. 

In the previous rounds of the Rio tournament, Sebastian Baez defeated lucky loser Roman Andres Burruchaga (6-3, 7-5), Mariano Navone (6-4, 1-6, 6-3) and qualifier Chun-Hsin Tseng (6-4, 6-1).

Ugo Carabelli, ranked No 91, beat Spaniard Pedro Martinez Portero, the No 7 seed (4-6, 6-3, 6-3), Bosnian Damir Dzumhur (6-4, 6-4) and Portuguese lucky loser Jaime Faria (7-6 (5), 6-4) earlier in the tournament.

Rio de Janeiro ATP 500, other semi-final result (Jockey Club Brasileiro, clay, USD 2.396.115):

• Francisco Comesana vs. Alexandre Muller