Sebastian Baez crashed the Generali Open get together of dwelling favorite Dominic Thiem in type on Saturday, when the Argentine delivered a surprising championship-match efficiency to triumph on the ATP 250.

Baez produced a near-flawless show of heavy hitting by way of the Kitzbühel clay to prevail 6-3, 6-1 towards 2019 champion Thiem and raise his second tour-level title of the 12 months. The 22-year-old opened up an in the end unassailable 4-1 lead en path to the opening set, and put collectively one other streak of 4 straight video games within the second to finish his 80-minute win.

“I do know all of the folks wished Domi to win as a result of he’s from right here, sorry” mentioned Baez to the group in his on-court interview. “I’m joyful not only for at present, however the entire week. All of the folks, the group, made me really feel so comfy right here this week. I do know this climate will not be the most effective, however this place is wonderful, and I loved day by day. I’m joyful to take the match.

“Congrats to Domi and his workforce. It was an amazing week [for them], so I hope he comes again to his finest degree.”

That is what it means 🙌

Introducing your champion in Kitzbuhel 🏆#generaliopen pic.twitter.com/Fs0PL4dOJV

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 5, 2023

Though Thiem appeared fatigued after pulling by way of three consecutive three-set wins throughout his fairytale run to the ultimate, Baez was scientific in nullifying the vocal dwelling help within the Austrian Alps. Rain delayed the beginning of the match by roughly 90 minutes, however when play did start the Argentine excelled within the heavy circumstances and transformed 4 of six break factors he earned to enhance his Lexus ATP Head2Head lead towards Thiem to 2-0.

All three of Baez’s ATP Tour titles have come at clay-court ATP 250s, after he beforehand triumphed in Estoril in 2022 and at dwelling in Cordoba in February this 12 months. He had received one match in his earlier 5 tournaments earlier than arriving in Kitzbühel, however he dropped only one set — towards high seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry within the semi-finals — en path to the trophy. Along with his title run, the Argentine has risen 25 spots to No. 47 within the Pepperstone ATP Stay Rankings.

“I simply wish to take pleasure in this second. It was a tremendous week,” mentioned Baez. “I’ll attempt to take pleasure in it with [my team]. We all know the previous few weeks weren’t the most effective outcomes, so we are going to attempt to take pleasure in this second.”

Regardless of his last disappointment, Thiem is about to return to the Prime 100 on Monday on account of his Kitzbühel run. The 29-year-old is at present up 27 spots to No. 89 within the Pepperstone ATP Stay Rankings.