In a dramatic showdown at the Movistar Chile Open, Laslo Djere emerged victorious against defending champion Sebastian Baez, clinching his third ATP Tour singles title.
The Serbian, who hadn’t won a title since 2020, secured a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win to capture the Santiago crown.
Djere’s triumph not only marked his 150th tour-level singles win but also propelled him back into the Top 100 of the ATP rankings, climbing 29 places to No. 74. His victory made him the first player outside the Top 100 to win a title this year.
The final was a nail-biting contest, with both players exchanging breaks of serve. Djere, facing a resilient Baez, eventually claimed victory by winning eight of the last 10 points, breaking to love in the final game. Djere’s strong performance on his first serve, winning 70% of his first-serve points, and his ability to save six out of 10 break points were crucial in securing the win.
With this title, Djere tied Viktor Troicki for the third-most tour-level titles among Serbian players, behind Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic. He also became the sixth Serbian player to reach 150 tour-level singles wins.
Djere’s path to the title included three consecutive three-set matches, defeating Jaime Faria in the quarter-finals and top seed Francisco Cerundolo in the semi-finals. Baez, who had won the Rio de Janeiro title the previous week, saw his eight-match winning streak come to an end.
This victory solidifies Djere’s position among the top players on the ATP Tour and sets the stage for an exciting season ahead.
