Baez defends Rio crown for seventh career title

rugby23 February 2025 22:37| © AFP
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Sebastian Baez © Gallo Images

Argentina's Sebastian Baez successfully defended his ATP Rio Open clay-court title on Sunday with a straight-sets win over Alexandre Muller of France in the final.

World number 31 Baez came through 6-2, 6-3 to secure his seventh career crown.

Six of the 24-year-old's trophies have come on clay and since the start of 2022, he has earned 73 wins on the surface, the most of anyone else on the circuit.

Casper makes it 2-0 to Ruud family after beating Korda in Madrid

rugby28 April 2025 05:59| © Reuters
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Casper Ruud © Gallo Images

Casper Ruud said gaining revenge for his family was on his mind during his win over Sebastian Korda at the Madrid Open on Sunday but the Norwegian could only grin sheepishly after learning his father Christian had actually beaten Petr Korda 26 years ago.

Christian Ruud defeated former world No 2 Petr Korda in their only meeting on the ATP Tour at the Miami Open in 1999, a stat which surprised world number 15.

"Honestly I thought he had lost to Petr before, so I was out here seeking revenge for the family, but this is an even better statistic for us," he said after his 6-3 6-3 win on Sunday.

"We'll try to keep it alive for as long as possible. It's fun that you see certain situations like this where father and son have played and are doing well.

"I'm sure Sebi and I will play many more times in our career and I'll try my best to keep him behind me but at some point I'm sure he'll catch up or get a win over the Ruud family."

Victory was Ruud's 150th win on clay and the twice French Open runner-up will continue his preparations for the May 25-June 8 Grand Slam when he meets third-seeded American Taylor Fritz in the Madrid round of 16.