Báez defends Rio Open title with straight-sets win

Sebastian Baez eased past Frenchman Alexandre Muller in straight sets in the Rio Open final to successfully defend his title .

The Argentine struck 26 winners en route to a convincing 6-2 6-3 win, as the fifth seed became the first player to win consecutive titles at the ATP 500-level event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Baez bagged his fourth trophy on South American soil and now has seven ATP Tour titles to his name, six of those coming on clay.

Sebastián Báez has made history by becoming the first player to successfully defend the Rio Open title since the tournament's inception in 2014. In the final held the Argentine defeated France's Alexandre Müller with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory. 

Báez's performance throughout the match was dominant. He secured an early lead in the first set, breaking Müller's serve to establish a 5-2 advantage before closing out the set. Despite a brief moment in the second set where Müller led 3-2, Báez regained control, winning the next four games to clinch the title. Over the course of the match, Báez delivered 26 winners and maintained a solid defense with only 23 unforced errors. 

This triumph marks Báez's seventh ATP title and his sixth on clay courts, underscoring his prowess on this surface. Reflecting on his achievement, Báez expressed immense pride in his performance throughout the week, stating, "I'm so proud of the whole week. I'm so happy with every match I played." 

On the other side of the net, Alexandre Müller reached his first ATP 500 final in Rio. His journey to the final included a hard-fought three-hour semifinal against Francisco Comesaña, which he won 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-3. Müller's impressive run in the tournament is expected to elevate his career ranking, marking a significant milestone in his professional journey. 

Báez's back-to-back titles at the Rio Open not only highlight his consistency and skill but also set a new benchmark for future participants in the tournament.