CLAY court season is truly underway when Argentinian Sebastian Baez is racking up titles, and the clay specialist was at it again, becoming the first player to successfully defend his title at the ATP500 Rio Open this morning.

Baez easily brushed aside much improved Frenchman Alexandre Muller to lift the trophy for a second successive year, starring in the Brazilian capital to win his seventh ATP Tour title, six of which have come on clay.

“I am so proud of the whole week,” Baez said post-match. “I am so happy for every match. I did my best and I am so happy. I try to give my best every point.

“Of course the finals are different because you want to win the tournament. I try to focus on the match and that is most difficult part in the finals, but the support from my coach and the team is so important.”

Baez took one hour and 27 minutes to secure the victory, which was his 73rd win from 109 matches on the surface since the start of 2022, the most of any player on Tour. He is not a huge server but is the most reliable going around, winning 73 and 50 per cent of his first and second serve points off a 70 per cent clip.

The Argentinian also saved four of five break points, while converting five of 12 off Muller’s serve in the process. He hit a handy 27 winners – of which only three were aces – compared to Muller’s 12, while hitting three less unforced errors (25-28).

Though the Frenchman is best suited to closing out points quicker (55 per cent from rallies three shots or less), Baez won 63 per cent of rallies that lasted longer than three points, showing he was happy to settle in and work through each point en route to victory.

The victory means Baez has been able to maintain his world ranking of 31st, with more clay court tournaments on the horizon. However his first act of business will be defending another title in Santiago this week, with the Argentinian in a very winnable tournament.

Baez is third seed for the ATP250 event in Chile, with only compatriot Francisco Cerundolo – fifth on the list of most clay court wins since the start of 2022 – and local hope Alejandro Tabilo the main threats. He will kick off his tournament against a qualifier before likely taking on fellow Argentinian Francisco Comesana in the second round.

Comesana is in some great form himself, only losing to Muller in the Rio semi-finals after knocking off world number two Alexander Zverev and sixth seed Nicolas Jarry in the lead-up to that penultimate match.

2025 RIO OPEN ATP500 – FINAL RESULT:

[5] Sebastian Baez (ARG) defeated Alexandre Muller (FRA) 6-2 6-3