Tennis – Fonseca Shines With Commanding Rio Open Victory
Tennis – Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca began his Rio Open campaign in confident fashion, overcoming fellow countryman Thiago Monteiro in straight sets to secure his first win of the new season.
Fonseca Delivers Clinical All-Brazilian Performance
Playing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at the Rio Open, Fonseca displayed maturity beyond his years. The 19-year-old edged a tightly contested first set in a tie-break before accelerating through the second, sealing a 7-6(1), 6-1 triumph.
His serve proved decisive throughout the encounter. Fonseca struck seven aces, including two during the crucial first-set tie-break, and consistently protected his delivery. According to ATP statistics, he captured 84 percent of his first-serve points, winning 36 out of 43. Notably, he did not face a single break point during the one-hour and 24-minute match, underlining his control from start to finish.
With the victory, the Brazilian advances to the second round, where he is set to meet Ignacio Buse.
Berrettini Holds Nerve in Tight Battle
Elsewhere in the opening round, Matteo Berrettini navigated a closely fought contest against lucky loser Tomas Barrios Vera. The Italian needed two tie-break level performances to secure a 7-6(1), 7-5 win.
The match hinged on a solitary break of serve, which came at a pivotal moment. Berrettini broke the Chilean in the final game of the second set to close out the contest after two hours and 25 minutes on court. The narrow margin reflected the intensity of the encounter, with both players largely dominant behind their serves.
Argentine Contenders Progress
An all-Argentine clash saw Tomas Martin Etcheverry and top seed Francisco Cerundolo move forward in contrasting fashion.
Etcheverry had to work through a three-set contest against Francisco Comesana, prevailing 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 after trading momentum across the match. Cerundolo, by contrast, produced a more straightforward display, dispatching Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4 to continue his strong run of form on South American clay.
Adding further intrigue, Juan Manuel Cerundolo caused one of the day’s notable upsets. The younger Cerundolo brother defeated second seed Luciano Darderi 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in a competitive battle. The result came just two days after Francisco Cerundolo had beaten Darderi in the Buenos Aires final, extending a difficult week for the Italian.
Faria Claims Career-Defining Win
Earlier in the day, Portugal’s Jaime Faria delivered a surprise result by eliminating two-time champion Sebastián Baez in straight sets.
Entering the main draw as a lucky loser, Faria made the most of his opportunity. He edged a tight opening set before dominating the second to record a 7-5, 6-1 victory. The win marked a significant milestone in his career.
“It was the biggest victory of my career,” Faria said after the match. “I stayed focused from the first point to the last and managed to keep my energy high. I sensed he was not fully comfortable today, and I tried to take advantage of that.”
Faria’s next challenge will come against Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dzumhur recovered from a difficult start to defeat Spain’s Pedro Martinez 0-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, rallying after a one-sided opening set to book his place in the second round.
With several seeded players progressing and a few surprises already unfolding, the Rio Open has begun with competitive intensity, setting the stage for an engaging week of ATP Tour action on Brazilian clay.