Sebastian Baez and qualifier Mariano Navone set all-Argentinian final in Rio de Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Defending champion Cameron Norrie has been bundled out of the Rio Open with a shock straight sets defeat to qualifier Mariano Navone on Saturday.

The 22-year-old Argentine beat the second-seeded British player 6-4, 6-2 to advance to his first tour-level final where he will play compatriot Sebastián Báez.

Norrie didn’t offer much resistance to the 113th-ranked Navone despite having become the favorite to win the clay-court tournament again after Carlos Alcaraz, Stan Wawrinka and Nicolás Jarry were all earlier beaten or retired injured

Advancing into his first career ATP final! 💥

Qualifier Mariano Navone takes out defending champ Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-2 and will face fellow countryman Sebastian Baez for the title. #RioOpen10Anos pic.twitter.com/76qc76SLLi
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) February 25, 2024

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In the earlier semifinal, fifth-seeded Báez topped his Argentine compatriot Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-0 to advance to his fifth and biggest tour-level final.

“Argentina has many players and many very good players,” the 30th-ranked Báez said. “We are using this (tournament) to climb up, we are young. I like to play in Rio, come to Brazil. When I don’t play against a Brazilian I feel like a local.”