Argentina Open 2026: Báez cements title-candidate credentials with solid win

Day four at the 2026 Argentina Open saw Sebastián Báez (ATP singles ranked 34) cement his title-candidate credentials with a 6-4, 6-3 victory against Perú’s Ignacio Buse (96) in just under an hour and a half. The 25-year-old opened the night shift playing confidently from the back, using his serve smartly and pushing when he needed to, to give a masterclass in his first game on clay of the season. “I think I improved as the game progressed today,” he told the Herald in the press conference. “I was feeling well from previous days, in practice and everything. Obviously, there were some nerves in the match, but I think I got through it well.” “I try to always focus on the next point, the next game, so I don’t know if I’d place myself among the candidates,” he said. “I’m improving, and I want to keep doing it.” Báez’s 9-2 record across three tournaments in 2026 has come as a surprise to many after struggling for most of last year. Báez said he’s been trying to “be more aggressive,” focusing on pushing rivals more often with his serves and groundstrokes. Regaining his confidence, he added, has been the key. “I think feeling good again, feeling quick again, and feeling solid at the baseline gives you more confidence to keep improving and finding new tools,” he said. And although his performance has undoubtedly made him one of the title favorites in Buenos Aires, Báez is still reluctant to embrace the tag.  “I try to always focus on the next point, the next game, so I don’t know if I’d place myself among the candidates,” he said. “I’m improving and I want to keep doing it.” He’ll now go up against Camilo Ugo Carabelli (47), who beat Mariano Navone (73) by 6-2, 7-5.  The duel between countrymen proved a grueling, hard-fought affair. Carabelli earned the win thanks to a rock-solid game from the back that allowed him to take advantage of Navone’s erratic shotmaking. Darderi and Martínez move on After three days of intense heat, the weather gave fans some respite on day four during the day shift.  The action started with Argentine-born Italian Luciano Darderi (22) beating Chile’s Tomás Barrios Vera 6-1, 6-3.  Darderi is one of the in-form players of the season, recently coming off a fourth-round exit at the 2026 Australian Open, his best result ever at a Grand Slam. Darderi showed his class throughout the match, outplaying Barrios Vera at most points. Only a slip-up in the second set saw him concede his serve up 4-1, but he was able to wrap it up closely after. “I think I’ve improved a lot mentally when it comes to key moments,” Darderi said in the press conference.  “I don’t lose my head so much like before. I used to have a lot more moments like the one I had today, at 4-1 up, when you make two or three mistakes in a row. I was talking about it with my team, and it’s something that can’t happen if I want to compete at an even higher level.” His next rival will be Spain’s Pedro Martínez (94) on Friday. Martínez wrapped the day shift at the Guillermo Vilas Center Court against Argentine Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, taking the win 7-6 (5), 6-4 The Argentine looked the better player for most of the first set, making it uncomfortable for Martínez, who looked to rattle him with tricks like a lower-hand serve or moonballs high in the air. However, he lost focus on the tiebreak, which ended up costing him. He continued to struggle in the second set. Martínez took the lead early on but couldn’t serve the match out at 5-3. However, Cerúndolo’s comeback stopped just as it got started as he conceded his serve once again to lose 6-4. Cover photo: Sebastián Báez