It is a guarantee that a first time ATP champion will be crowned this Sunday in Santiago, as both Sebastian Baez and Pedro Martinez fight it out for their maiden title in the final. In a very balanced draw where anyone could beat anyone, these two are deservedly the last two men standing and, as has been the case all week, it’s almost impossible to pick a winner here.
ATP Santiago Final Prediction
Sebastian Baez vs Pedro Martinez
Head-to-head: Baez 1-0 Martinez
Their one previous meeting was in the quarterfinals of the Zagreb Challenger last season and Baez won a very tough three-set, two and half hours battle. This, however, is a very different scenario with both players having at stake the biggest achievement of their career to date. This will be as much about their tennis as it will be about their ability to manage their nerves given the magnitude of the occasion. Both have played at a similarly high level this week and have come through some tough battles; in terms of experience at this stage, Baez is playing his first final, while Martinez played the Kitzbuhel final last year and came very close to beating Casper Ruud, but couldn’t quite close it out in the end.
In terms of level, they seem to be very evenly matched, but Baez seems destined to reach a higher level and achieve bigger things in his career than Martinez, who seems to have more or less reached his ceiling. With that mind, Baez will start as a very slight favorite, though in the end it will all come down to who can better deal with the occasion and seize this opportunity to become a champion at ATP level for the first time in their career. It could well end up being a long three-setter with lots of momentum swings.
Prediction: Baez in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
