Sebastian Baez downed Alexandre Muller in straight sets to become the first player to win the ATP Rio Open twice. (More Tennis News)
The Argentine defended the crown he won 12 months ago against compatriot Mariano 𓄧Navone by seeing off Frenchman Muller in a convincing 6-2 6-3 triumph in Brazil.
Baez was only the th𒀰ird player to reach the final in Rio twice after Carlos Alcaraz and Diego Schwartzman and now stands alone as the only two-time champion.
The fifth seed was particularly dominant from the baseline on the ಞclay and pulled his opponent fro🍰m side to side, nailing 26 winners and breaking Muller's serve on five occasions.
Consequently, Baez –♛ who has the most ATP clay-court wins since 2022 with 73 – collected a seventh career ATP Tour title, six of which have come on the red surface.
Muller, 28, was ai⛎m🍃ing to capture a second career title having already triumphed in Hong Kong earlier this season.
He can at least take solace in the fact he will climb 18 spots in the ATP world rankings on Monday to a career-high level of🎃 41ꦜ.
