Baez wins biggest title of career in Rio, beats qualifier Navone
It was a straightforward win for Baez over a compatriot who has caused plenty of players problems this week
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Sebastian Baez won the biggest title of his career thus far by lifting the crown at the Rio Open, an ATP 500 tournament, beating qualifier Mariano Navone 6-2, 6-1.
He now has the most tour-level titles among active Argentinian players, with five – going one ahead of Diego Schwartzman.
He will rise to a new career-high ranking of world No 21.
It was the 30th all-Argentine final in the Open era – the first since Baez beat Federico Coria to win in Cordoba last year.
He becomes the second Argentine to win the tournament, following Schwartzman’s victory in 2018.
Navone got his first ATP Tour win this week, followed by quarter-final, semi-final (where he beat second seed Cameron Norrie) and final, which has launched him up the rankings to a new career high of world No 60.
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