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Spanish tennis player Pedro Martinez was glad that his fighting spirit paid off in the Santiago final and that he ended up winning his first ATP title. Martinez, 24, overcame Argentine Sebastian Baez 4-6 6-4 6-4 in the Santiago final on Sunday.
After the final, Martinez spoke positively of 21-year-old Baez. “I am very happy,” Martinez said in his on-court interview. “It was a big battle. He has played unbelievably well in the past year. I played very well at the end and am really happy.
I always fight until the end and that can give you opportunities”.
Martinez recovered from a set down to beat Baez
Baez made a positive start to the match, having broken Martinez in the opening game of the match. Baez saved a break point in the following game to take a 2-0 lead but also missed out on two break points in the third game which would have given him a double-break lead.
After failing to secure a double-break lead, Baez got broken back in the fourth game. However, it didn't take long for Baez to again go up by a break as he broke Martinez in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Baez failed to convert a set point in the ninth game but served out for the first set in the following game.
Baez saved four break points in the fourth game of the second set, before earning the first break of the set in the fifth game. Martinez found himself in an uncomfortable spot as he was down by a set and a break. Martinez impressively bounced back after falling down by a set and a break as he broke Baez in the sixth and 10th games to overturn the deficit and force a decider.
After winning the second set, Martinez collected the first break of the second set in the sixth game to go 4-2 up. Martinez got broken back in the seventh game but broke Baez again in the 10th game to complete a comeback win. Following his Santiago victory, Martinez climbed up to a career-high ranking of No. 50 in the world.