Sebastián Báez marked his first appearance on hard court since March 2026 with a commanding straight-sets victory at the National Bank Open in Montreal. The Argentine, currently ranked 48th in the world, defeated Italy's Mattia Bellucci (ATP 80) 7-5, 6-3 in the opening round. It was the first career meeting between the two players on the ATP main tour.
Solid Serve as the Foundation
Báez dominated the match on serve in a fashion that belied his underdog status on the unfamiliar hard-court surface. He held serve on 91 percent of his service games, giving Bellucci precious little opportunity on return. The Argentine saved 83 percent of the break points he faced while converting 43 percent of his own break chances — a clear edge in the decisive moments.
Bellucci, a left-hander known for his strengths on hard courts who was making his tournament debut in Montreal, initially held serve at a 70 percent rate. However, his 42 unforced errors — nearly double Báez's tally of 24 — proved the telling difference. Six double faults compounded the Italian's problems, repeatedly costing him crucial points.
First Set as the Turning Point
The opening set developed into a closely fought affair. Both players held firm until 5-5, before Báez made the decisive move: he converted his break point to lead 6-5 and then served out the set with authority — 7-5. That moment took the unpredictability out of the contest.
In the second set, Báez pulled away early and gave Bellucci no route back into the match, closing it out 6-3. With 56 percent of total points won and 14 winners, the Argentine controlled proceedings from the baseline throughout. Bellucci, whose last tournament match had come back in June in Eastbourne and who arrived in Montreal after an extended break from competitive play, visibly faded as the second set wore on.
Context and Outlook
For Báez, reaching the second round offers a measure of satisfaction: back in 2022, he had fallen at the opening hurdle in Montreal. Now he punches his ticket to the next round at the most prestigious North American hard-court event ahead of the US Open. The fact that a acknowledged clay-court specialist can perform with such consistency on hard courts speaks to a degree of adaptability — even if a truly commanding display on the surface remains elusive. Bellucci, meanwhile, departs without a point to show for his efforts and will need to manage extended breaks between matches more effectively if he is to showcase his genuine qualities on this surface.
