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Sebastian Baez US Open 2022 ATP

Sebastian Baez prevents dire dozen with first ATP win for over three months


Sebastian Baez has finally ended his losing streak at 11 by defeating Lorenzo Sonego in the first round of the ATP 250 Napoli Cup. 

The world number 37 overcame the home talent 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) as he made it through a tough Naples atmosphere. It is a first win for the 21-year-old since 17th July when he defeated Andrey Rublev in the semi-finals of the Swedish Open in Bastad.

“I’m happy with this win,” Baez said after the victory.  “I think the last months were difficult because I lost a lot of matches. But now I’m so happy to take this one. I know him, this year we met each other two times and he won both times. So I’m happy to take it and continue in the tournament of course.”

Baez fell to Sonego in February and January at home in Buenos Aires and in Sydney respectively, both in straight sets. Of the Argentinian’s 11 successive defeats from July to October, eight have come to players ranked below him. Five have been ranked outside the top 50 and two outside the top 100.

He claimed his first ATP title in April in Estoril, Portugal, defeating Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-2 to do so. Next in Naples Baez takes on Marton Fucsovics or Chinese qualifier Zhizhen Zhang for a place in the quarter-finals.

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