Sebastian Baez will be trying to complete the Rio de Janeiro-Santiago double for the second year in a row when he battles Laslo Djere in the Chile Open final on Sunday evening.
In 2024, Baez lifted the Rio de Janeiro trophy and then got right back in gear the very next week to triumph in Santiago. After successfully defending his Rio title last weekend, the world No. 31 is one win away from doing the same at this Santiago ATP 250 tournament.
It has not been an entirely routine week for Baez. The third seed required a third-set tiebreaker in his opening match against Francisco Comesana and also went three sets with Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the semifinals in addition to a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Damir Dzumhur in the quarters. Baez is 12-2 on clay so far this season.
Sunday marks the third meeting between Baez and Djere, with the Argentine having won both of their previous encounters (7-6(4), 6-4 at this same Santiago event in 2023 and 6-3, 6-0 later that year on the hard courts of Winston-Salem).
Djere is through to his sixth ATP final following defeats of Ignacio Buse, Pedro Martinez, Jaime Faria, and Francisco Cerundolo. The 103rd-ranked Serb, who is 2-3 lifetime in finals, needed three sets against both Faria and Cerundolo.
At this point, it’s hard to bet against Baez given his current form and history of success both in Santiago and against Djere. Moreover, the 24-year-old is 6-0 in his last six ATP finals. It may not be easy considering how well his opponent is playing this week, but yet another trophy should be coming Baez’s way.
Pick: Baez in 3
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