![Mariano Navone (pictured) will contest the final of the Rio Open after knocking out Cameron Norrie. (EPA PHOTO) Mariano Navone (pictured) will contest the final of the Rio Open after knocking out Cameron Norrie. (EPA PHOTO)](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/276e83be-7a32-4d01-acca-0b0834fb91ab.jpg/r0_0_800_600_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Defending champion Cameron Norrie has been bundled out of the ATP's Rio Open with a shock straight-sets defeat to qualifier Mariano Navone.
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The 22-year-old Argentine beat the second-seeded British player 6-4 6-2 to advance to his first tour-level final where he will play compatriot Sebastian Baez.
Norrie didn't offer much resistance to the 113th-ranked Navone despite having become the favourite to win the clay-court tournament again after Carlos Alcaraz, Stan Wawrinka and Nicolas Jarry all departed through a combination of injury and defeat.
Fifth-seeded Baez topped his Argentine compatriot Francisco Cerundolo 7-5 6-0 to advance from the other semi to his fifth and biggest tour-level final.
"Argentina has many players and many very good players," world No.30 Baez said.
"We are using this (tournament) to climb up, we are young. I like to play in Rio, come to Brazil.
"When I don't play against a Brazilian I feel like a local."
Australian Associated Press