Rain Lifts Over Rio’s Red Clay
Tropical downpours twice stalled the Rio Open, but as play resumes on slick courts, players channel the wait into sharpened edges, chasing quarterfinal glory amid the humid buzz.
Rain slicks the red clay at the Rio Open presented by Claro, yet Thursday’s action stirs back under clearing skies after a second delay. The hour-long pause eases, umbrellas folding as the crowd on Quadra Guga Kuerten leans forward, the air thick with salt and anticipation. For these competitors, each resumption tests the fragile rhythm of a tournament that pulses with heat and unyielding drive.
Delays sharpen mental resets
The first interruption hit at a knife’s edge, halting play when Tomas Martin Etcheverry stood three points from victory over Vilius Gaubas at 7-6(1), 5-3, 15/15. Forty-five minutes later, the Argentine returns with deeper crosscourt forehands that bite into the damp surface, sealing a 7-6(1), 6-4 win. In Rio’s humid grip, such pauses amplify the psychological strain, turning a routine hold into a fight against doubt and interrupted flow.
Etcheverry‘s composure under gathering clouds echoes his steady climb on clay, where every match builds pressure like endless baseline exchanges. He shakes off the wait, his heavy topspin pinning Gaubas back, while the Lithuanian fades without resetting his aggressive returns. On this ATP 500 stage, mental toughness outstrips tactical shifts, especially with majors looming in the tight schedule.
Lucky paths ignite quarterfinal bids
Earlier, lucky loser Jaime Faria outlasts Damir Dzumhur 7-6(1), 6-4, advancing to the quarters with a mix of slice serves and deep approaches. His one-two patterns exploit the Bosnian’s backhand, building points with the patience of an unexpected opportunity. The upset eases the grind of qualifiers and travel, fueling quiet confidence on a surface that rewards grinders.
Faria’s sharp angles and low slices disrupt rhythm on the heavy clay, turning potential stumbles into forward momentum. The crowd’s roar builds as conditions stabilize, underscoring how Rio favors those who vary pace amid home-soil energy. This win layers resilience into his game, setting up clashes where endurance meets tactical savvy.
Resumed matches test surface savvy
Now, Joao Fonseca faces Ignacio Buse on Quadra Guga Kuerten, the young Brazilian drawing national hopes with inside-out forehands against the Spaniard’s steady baseline. The rain’s shadow demands quick footing on slippery lines, where Fonseca’s aggressive 1–2 could pierce with inside-in winners. A victory here boosts his rankings, closing gaps in 2026‘s early push.
Following, Matteo Berrettini meets Dusan Lajovic, pitting the Italian’s booming serve and flat strokes against the Serb’s loopy spins and defensive depth. Berrettini targets down-the-line returns to overwhelm, but Lajovic’s heavy forehand and slice backhand extend rallies, challenging movement on the sliding clay. Both chase ranking surges—Berrettini toward the top 20, Lajovic holding mid-tier ground—making these points steps toward deeper runs.
These delays haven’t just paused the action; they’ve heightened the clay’s quirks, where spin control and footing decide after wet interruptions. Players tweak serves for less skid, opting for kick serves that climb high, while returns require faster steps against uneven bounces. As the Rio Open presses on, such adaptations will carve paths to titles and climbs, the red dirt holding tales of pressure endured.
