The Argentine tennis player Sebastián Báez, ranked 31st in the ATP rankings, defeated his compatriot Mariano Navone (46th) 6-4, 1-6, and 6-3 at the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, thus advancing to the quarter-finals of the tournament. The match between the two players revisited the final of the event in 2024, where Báez also emerged victorious, becoming the champion.
In a match lasting a little over two hours, Báez managed to prevail in a closely contested first set, only to see Navone dominate in the second set. However, in the third set, the 23-year-old young tennis player showcased his quality, breaking his opponent's serve twice and securing his place in the next round of the tournament in Brazil.
Following this victory, Navone will lose his position in the top 50 of the ATP rankings, while Báez continues with his goal of defending the title obtained in the previous edition of the tournament. In the next round, the Argentine will face the winner of the match between Brazilian Thiago Monteiro and Chun-Hsin Tseng, which will take place later on Wednesday.
