Even though Mariano Navone didn’t finish his dream week at the Rio Open presented by Claro with the title, the 22-year-old Argentinian is leaving the Jockey Club Brasileiro with a smile in his face.

“I know it is a bit contradictory because I lost the final, but I won many other finals this week”, said him after being defeated by fellow countryman Sebastian Baez at Quadra Guga Kuerten by 6/2 and 6/1.

“I won the final of breaking into the top 100, I won the final of qualifying to my first ATP 500 tournament, I won the final of winning my first ATP Tour match, I made it to the quarterfinals, I defeated a top 25 player for the first time… It was a lot of personal victories this week, I cannot complain”, said Navone who is projected to appear as number 60 in the ranking this Monday.

“I left everything I could on court today. Seba was just better than me and never let me feel comfortable on court. He deserved it. As for me it was a very special week. Going from the qualifying to the final of an ATP 500 event is something incredible. I won four matches at the main draw. It only gave me confidence to know that I can be amongst the best and fighting against them”, added Navone, who earned his biggest career win over world’s number 23, Cameron Norrie, on his way to reach the final in Rio.