Rio Open: Qualifier Navone upsets defending champ Norrie to reach final
Navone becomes the first qualifier to reach an ATP 500 final since Dubai 2022
Argentine qualifier Mariano Navone upset second seed Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-2 to move into the final of the Rio Open at the Jockey Club Brasileiro in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.
Norrie appeared to be physically struggling and also received attention from the physio and the tournament doctor during the match.
Navone, ranked No 113, will play No 5 seed Sebastian Baez in an all-Argentinian battle for the title on Sunday. He becomes the first qualifier to reach an ATP 500 final since Jiri Vesely did the same at the Dubai Open in 2022.
The 22-year-old Argentine, who scored his first career top 50 win today, beat Federico Coria (1-6, 6-4, 6-2), German Yannick Hanfmann (6-1, 6-2) and Brazilian wildcard Joao Fonseca (2-6, 6-3, 6-3) earlier in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Norrie, ranked No 23, defeated Hugo Dellien (6-3, 6-2), Chilean Tomas Barrios Vera (6-1, 6-1) and Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild (6-1, 3-6, 6-2) earlier in the week.
Rio de Janeiro ATP 500, other semi-final result (Jockey Club Brasileiro, clay, USD 2,100,230):
- Sebastian Baez beat Francisco Cerundolo (4): 7-5, 6-0