RIO de JANEIRO (AP) – Sebastián Báez claimed his fifth and biggest title Sunday with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over fellow Argentine Mariano Navone at the Rio Omnium.
The fifth seeded Báez was not seriously challenged by the qualified 22-year-old Navone in the final of the clay court tournament.
None of the Argentines were among the favourites to win the title, but defending champions Cameron Norrie, Carlos Alcaraz, Stan Wawrinka and Nicolás Jarry had all stumbled.
Báez is the second Argentine to take the trophy, Diego Schwartzman is the first in 2018.
Báez is expected to move up from his current 30th to 21st in career height on Monday. Navone becomes a top-100 player for the first time, reaching 60th place after Rio.
Despite a somewhat lukewarm final in Rio de Janeiro, some high-profile tennis players from the past and present have called for more high-profile tournaments in South America to appeal to the enthusiastic spectators who flocked to the Rio Open and the Argentina Open earlier this month.
“Unpopular opinion. South America should have its own swing on the tennis circuit with its own Masters series,” Andy Murray, a three-time winner of a major tournament, said on Platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “The way fans support tournaments there is incredible. Awesome moods and is clearly part of their sports culture. Come on, ATP tour.”
Six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker agreed: “Why unpopular? You are absolutely right. Tennis should go to countries / continents where tennis is booming.”
The Argentine Diego Schwartzman demanded more pressure.
“Let the ATP know, Andy. Every year they give us less support, ” he said, adding that there should be more tournaments in South America,” not only because of the way fans support tournaments,” but also ” how many players we have and had at the top.”
“We earn more than that from the ATP,” Schwartzman said.