Buenos Aires, January 16 (NA) -- Argentine tennis player Sebastián Báez (39th) lost in straight sets in the final of the ATP 250 in Auckland, New Zealand, to Czech player Jakub Mensik (18th). According to Noticias Argentinas agency, Báez lost 3-6 and 6-7 (7/9) and saw his seven-match winning streak come to an end. During his great run of consecutive victories, the player born in San Martín defeated Americans Taylor Fritz (6th) and Ben Shelton (8th) in the Auckland quarterfinals, as well as former world No. 3 Stan Wawrinka (156th). Mensik put an end to a great week for Sebastián Báez, who nevertheless had a memorable and encouraging start to 2026. For the first time in what was a great tournament for him, Báez started the match with some discomforts. Although he had a break point in his rival's first service game, he couldn't find effective ways to return the first serve, which usually reached over 210 km/h and was the main threat from the Czech. This way, Mensik was able to strengthen his serve, and by breaking in the sixth game, he secured the necessary advantage to take the first set 6-3, on his first set point. Little by little, and as the second set progressed, the Argentine began to find ways to make his opponent's serve hurt him less. In a very even set, there were no break points until the eleventh game, with a curiosity: Báez committed two double faults in a row and put himself at a double break point disadvantage. Serving for the match, Mensik changed sides to cool his head and plan how he intended to define the championship, although the determination of the Argentine prevailed, allowing him to recover the break, which was his only one in the final, and forcing a tie-break. In the tie-break, the 25-year-old player won two points with his rival's serve and had a triple set point in his favor, although he could not take advantage of it. Having lost six of the last seven points, Báez managed to save the first match point but failed to do so on the second, with a cross-court backhand that went wide, giving the title to the Czech. Thus, Jakub Mensik won his second ATP-level title of his career, having been champion of the 2025 Miami Masters 1000 by defeating none other than Serbian Novak Djokovic in the final, and reached the 17th position in the ranking, one position from his best career ranking and about to play his third Australian Open, where he defends a third-round spot.
