The second round of the 2026 Chile Open continues on Thursday with third seed Sebastian Baez facing local favorite Cristian Garín. Both players are past champions of this clay-court tournament and will be determined to make another deep run in Santiago this year. We could be all set for a closely contested match-up between two clay court specialists.
Cristian Garín vs. Sebastian Baez Match Details
Date: Feb. 26, 2026
Tournament: Chile Open 2026
Round: Second Round
Venue: Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo, Santiago, Chile
Surface: Outdoor clay
Category: ATP 250
Live Telecast: Tennis Channel, Tennis TV
Garín vs. Baez Head-to-Head
This will be the fourth meeting between Garín and Baez. It is the Argentinian who leads the head-to-head, having won two of the three matches between the two.
The last time they met was at the 2023 Miami Open, where Garín came out on top in straight sets. However, their two clay court meetings, including one in Santiago in 2023, have gone Baez’s way.
Both players have endured a difficult start to the season. Although Baez did make the final in Auckland and was also unbeaten with Argentina at the United Cup.
Baez was eliminated in the second round of the Australian Open in four sets by Luciano Darderi. After that, he made the semifinals at the Argentina Open, again losing to Darderi. Continuing the Golden Swing in Rio, he suffered a first-round exit.
Having received a first-round bye at the Chile Open, Baez will be eyeing a deep run at the tournament. He has a strong record in Santiago, winning the tournament in 2024 and making the final in 2022 and 2025.
Garín, on the other hand, was winless on the main draw stage coming into his home tournament. The 29-year-old finally ended that run with a hard-fought 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
The Chilean won his hometown tournament in 2021 and will be eager to make his mark in Santiago once again this year.
Garín vs. Baez Prediction
Both players consider clay their strongest surface, and we could be in for another close contest between them on Thursday. Baez will enter the contest as the slight favorite, courtesy of his better start to the season.
But Garín will have the hometown support and will be full of confidence following his come-from-behind win over Cerundolo.
Fine margins could make the difference in this one, and it may well come down to who adapts better to the match situations. We are backing Baez to earn a narrow win in this one.
Pick – Baez to win in three sets.
