Rio Open 2026: Etcheverry Claims Singles Title and Fonseca/Melo Win Doubles
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
The 2026 Rio Open ended with historic achievements for Brazil and Argentina after a weekend marked by rain and suspended matches. In the doubles, João Fonseca and Marcelo Melo defeated the German Constantin Frantzen and the Dutchman Robin Haase 4-6, 6-3, 10-8. In the singles, Argentina's Tomas Etcheverry claimed his first career ATP title by overcoming Chile's Alejandro Tabilo 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4.
For Fonseca, the trophy represented his first ATP doubles title, while Melo became a two-time Rio Open champion, repeating his 2025 feat. Etcheverry, on the other hand, faced a decisive double-header, starting with the conclusion of the semifinal against Vit Kopriva—suspended on Saturday night due to rain—and finished on Sunday with a 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(4) victory before returning to the court for the final.
The Argentine's performance consolidated a winning streak against players outside the top 50, extending a positive run dating back to July of the previous year. The campaign also included two tie-breaks won on the same day, in the semifinals and the final, which ended a streak of three lost ATP finals for Etcheverry.
The 2026 edition also recorded the longest match in Rio Open history, the semifinal between Etcheverry and Kopriva, lasting 3 hours and 57 minutes. Following the final, tournament director Lui Carvalho evaluated the edition and once again defended the possibility of moving to hard courts, arguing that the change could strengthen the event on the ATP calendar and attract even more top players to Brazil.
The tournament also featured the presence of former world No. 1 Andre Agassi, who participated in a social action in Rocinha with the Escolinha Fabiano de Paula project and presented the doubles trophy to Fonseca and Melo at the Guga Kuerten Court, reinforcing the integration between the event and tennis development initiatives in the city.