Francisco Comesana and Sebastian Baez shared an ice bath after their lengthy match (Image: Instagram @sebastianguti1)
Sebastian Baez and Francisco Comesana went the distance in a dramatic match at the Chile Open on Thursday, which ended with a deciding tiebreak. Defending champion Baez came out on top, winning 6-3 5-7 7-6(5).
The rivals have a good relationship. Not only are they both from Argentina, they share the same coach. It makes things especially “difficult” when Baez and Comesana face off in a real match. And there was an unusual end to their contest, as they took an ice bath together.
Baez and Comesana both came into the ATP 250 in Santiago on top form. Baez recently completed his title defence at the Rio Open, while the world No. 67 enjoyed one of the best weeks of his career, upsetting in the quarter-final.
As the third seed at the Chile Open, Baez received a bye directly into the second round. Meanwhile, Comesana had to beat Felipe Meligeni Alves in round one, booking a showdown with his good friend and rival.
Their match went down to the wire. There was a dramatic moment in the decisive tiebreak when Baez fell over while returning the ball and still managed to hit a winner.
He didn’t realise he’d won the point until he got up a few seconds later. The No. 3 seed went on to win in two hours and 33 minutes and the pair shared a warm embrace at the net.
Sebastian Baez kept his Santiago title defence alive (Image: Getty)
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Afterwards, Baez admitted it was difficult to compete against Comesana. “It’s always very hard to play with Fran,” the world No. 31 said.
“He’s a great guy, we share our team, so we are together so much. It’s always difficult, but I’m happy to be in the next round.”
Both men are coached by Sebastian Gutierrez. And their close relationship made for an unusual encounter in the locker room after the match.
Gutierrez was watching on TV from afar, sharing stories as he followed the match. “What they are showing makes me say I already won! Thank you. I admit them,” the Argentine tennis coach said of his two pupils.
The coach also shared a surprising photo of Baez and Comesana sharing an ice bath after leaving the court. “That’s how we end it!”, he wrote, adding a heart emoji.
Gutierrez has been working with Baez for more than a decade, and the 24-year-old previously admitted he saw his coach like a “big brother, father and friend.”
Baez is now on a six-match winning streak and will face Damir Dzumhur in Friday’s quarter-final as he looks to defend his title in Santiago.