“Why not me?” Inspired by Tiafoe, Baez defeats the American to win first title in Estoril

WATCH: Sebastian Baez defeated Frances Tiafoe in the 2022 Estoril final.

Throughout the week, 21-year-old Sebastian Baez finished every match in Estoril with a statement of intent: “Why not me?” he wrote on the camera lens, after each of his victories on his way to the final on Sunday.

It was a slogan his coach, Sebastian Gutierrez, gave him as a mantra after Baez found himself in the midst of an unexpected slump: after reaching the Santiago final in February, the Argentine was 0-5 in main draw matches. Looking around at peers in his age bracket like 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz and 20-year-old Jannik Sinner who have already experienced much success, the No. 59-ranked Baez asked himself, “Why not me?”

Gutierrez had spotted those words on one of Frances Tiafoe’s bracelets—ironically, it was exactly him that Baez would have to overcome in his next final, winning 6-3, 6-2 to lift his first ATP title.

“Frances, you were an inspiration for me this week,” Baez told the American during the trophy ceremony. “You are a great player and a great man… ‘Why not me?’ and why not you, man?”

A Baez victory had seemed like a long-shot just over an hour ago, however, as the Argentine was slow to get his game going against Tiafoe in the opening stages of the first set. The 21-year-old seemed cowed by the occasion, and was points away from falling behind 0-3 as Tiafoe grabbed an early break.

The 24-year-old American, who previously reached the final in Estoril in 2018, was looking for his second ATP title since winning Delray Beach that same year. Tiafoe had taken the scenic route back to the 250-level final, with all four of his previous matches going three sets—including a 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 win in the semifinals over Sebastian Korda the day before.

Once Baez shook off the nerves, he took control of the match against Tiafoe, reeling off six games in a row to take the opening set. Tiafoe never fully recovered, and he couldn’t generate any break opportunities against the Argentine’s strong serve in the second set. Baez wrapped up the match in cool-headed fashion, and he sank to his knees in disbelief as he claimed the victory.

The Argentine is the sixth first-time winner this year in an increasingly varied field of emerging ATP champions, and the second of the day after Holger Rune's win in Munich. The 2018 junior Roland Garros champion will be primed to reach the Top 40 after Estoril, and after defeating three former tournament champions—local hero Joao Sousa, Richard Gasquet and Albert Ramos Vinolas—on route to the title, he seems to be making good on all his early promise.

On Sunday, Baez grabbed a marker and signed the camera lens one last time: “Yes it’s me!”