Cameron Norrie (Fotojump) Q: Cameron, well done. Is that one of the best moments of your career? A: Yes, I think so. It was very special, especially with the way things unfolded during the week with all the stresses of the matches and it was a roller coaster for a lot of the week. So it was really tough to get over the line especially with the final the comeback and an ATP 500 and it was my first one winning one of those. So very special and especially to win against a top player like Carlos was amazing and it just took a lot of heart. So it was it was nice to get it done and then a lot of emotions right now. So really enjoyed the week as a whole. All the fans were amazing and and I really had a good time. Q: Congratulations. Yesterday you told us that you would be playing differently from Buenos Aires. What did you do different today and what was in your mind when you were a break down on the third set? A: Yeah. It was tough because he looked a little bit physically tired but he was playing even better and so aggressive. So I just had to keep telling myself 'he can't keep playing like this and kind of keep hitting winners like this'. So I had to be really patient and then also I got up a break and then he had almost four winners so it was really tough to to play with him. He looked a little bit tired but then he was moving really well again and hitting the ball really aggressive and
Cameron Norrie and Carlos Alcaraz (Fotojump) Third time was a charm for Cameron Norrie! After losing the previous two finals he played in 2023 the British survived a two-hour-and-41-minute battle to pull an amazing turnaround over Carlos Alcaraz and win the Rio Open presented by Claro by 5/7, 6/4 and 7/5. It was Norrie's fifth ATP title, the first since winning in Lyon, last May. It was also the second weekend in a row that he faced Alcaraz in a final. Last week in Buenos Aires the Spaniard, currently second in the world, won in two sets. "What a match! It could have easily gone either way but I thing I managed to run a bit more and win. It was an amazing week in Rio. Not only on court but also outside. I had the chance to visit favela da Rocinha and play with some kids over there and it was such an amazing experience. I really want to thank the Rio Open for setting that up and hopefully I'll be back here again", said the British, who lost the first set and was behind in the second (3-0, ) and the third (2-0). It was the second time this year that Norrie beats a number two in the world. On New Year’s Eve, he defeated Rafael Nadal at the United Cup. The British also leads the ATP Tour with 18 wins overall and ten wins on clay in 2023. "Cameron had an amazing run this week and it was really tough to play him, specially two finals in a row. He deserved this title. I want to thank Rio and Brazil, it's always so special to play here.
Molteni and Gonzales (Fotojump) Argentinians Maximo Gonzales and Andres Molteni defeated Brazilian Marcelo Melo and Colombian Juan Sebastian Cabal this Saturday at Jockey Club Brasileiro by 6/1 and 7/6 (3) and won the doubles title at the Rio Open presented by Claro. It was Gonzales second title in Rio _the first one was in 2019 playing alongside Chilean Nicolas Jarry. "This is such a great tournament, such an amazing city and we feel really well here. And I think that shows on court as well", said Gonzales, 39, ranked number 39 in the world. "It was a tough match but we were able to keep calm throughout it. I'm extremely happy with the win and it was my first time at Quadra Guga Kuerten, which was great. I hope we can keep this level and have more weeks like this one", said Molteni, 34, ranked 32 in the world. Melo, who was trying to give Brazil it's first ever title in Rio, was really disappointed after his second runner-up effort at Jockey Club Brasileiro _the other one was in 2014 playing alongside David Marrero. "We didn't start the match right, they were much better. In the second set we improved, had two set points but in the end they prevailed. It was my first time playing with Cabal and we had a great week. Of course I would rather have won today, but maybe I'll have another shot next week", said Melo, a former number one in the world and a two-time Grand Slam champion. This was Gonzales and Molteni's second title in 2023. They also won in Cordoba on February 12th. With the win Gonzales/Molteni now have 20 wins
Carlos Alcaraz (Fotojump) Carlos Alcaraz survived a two-hour-and-42-minute battle to pull a turnaround and land his second final in a week. In his third appearance at the Rio Open presented by Claro, the Spaniard defeated Nicolas Jarry by 6(2)/7, 7/5 and 6/0 and now faces British Cameron Norrie at the final, this Sunday, at 5:30 pm, local time. It will be their second final in a row. Last week, in Buenos Aires, Alcaraz won in two sets (6/3 and 7/5). It will also be their sixth match up. Norrie won only once. "It was a very tough match and I could easily have lost it. But I think I was brave in the decisive moments and got away with the win. Nico is such a a great player and he could win over any top player at anytime", said Alcaraz. "Norrie is at a very high level and I'll have to be on top of my game to win. I won in Buenos Aires in two sets, so to be honest I don't think I'll do a lot different here. He probably will, but I'll talk to my team and we'll figure that out. I hope I can count with the support of the Brazilian crowd", said the Spaniard, champion of last year's edition and who's trying to become the first player to capture the Rio Open title multiple times in the tournament’s nine-year history. Alcaraz won the 2022 title at 18 and became the youngest ATP 500 champion and in 2020 defeated Albert Ramos-Viñolas in the first round at 16 to become the youngest ATP 500 match winner. Another win in Rio this Sunday will mean that Alcaraz equals
Q: Can you just give us some dimension of the match? A: Yeah, it was a tough match. I started really well and was really playing a lot with my point, dictating the points and hitting the backhand across really hard. I think I went away from that a little bit in the start of the second set, and he actually raised his level a lot. Then the third was a battle and it could have easily been 6-3 there or 6-4 but no, it was it was a tough match. And I was able to serve really well on the third set, tie break and that was the difference. Q: So you just reached your third final this year. How do you feel about your form? A: Yeah, this is my third final. So I've been playing a lot of matches and just really looking for that first title though. Q: In the third set you had a breakpoint against in the 6-5. What went though your mind? A: I was trying not to think about anything, obviously I had chances and that said and I was just trying to focus on that point. And yeah, I played a really good point and I actually, a couple of times I went to the forehand side and I missed by a little bit and then that one I was able to go to the backhand and then finish with the short volley and then that was the difference and it gave me a lot of energy after that. Q: What do you have to do differently in this final to win in comparison to Auckland and Buenos Aires? A: I'm
Cameron Norrie (Fotojump) Will third time be a charm for Cameron Norrie? After his runner-up efforts in in Auckland, where he lost to Frenchman Richard Gasquet, and in Buenos Aires, last week, when Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz prevailed, the British will have this Sunday another opportunity to win his first title this season. He will face the winner of Alcaraz x Nicolas Jarry at the final of the ninth edition of the Rio Open presented by Claro, starting at 5:30 pm, local time. This Saturday, Norrie survived a two-and-a-half-hour battle against Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles, who was playing his second semifinal in a row. The British won by 6/2, 3/6 and 7/6 (3). "It was a tough match. I started really well and was really playing a lot with my point, dictating the points and hitting the backhand across really hard. I think I went away from that a little bit in the start of the second set, and he actually raised his level a lot and then the third was a battle and it could have easily been 6-3 or 6-4 but no, it was it was a tough match. And I was able to serve really well on the third set, tie break and that was the difference", said the British. Second seed Norrie is making his second Rio appearance. In 2019 he lost in the second round. Top British player in the rankings, he extended his record this season to 17 victories and 3 losses _he holds the ATP record in 2023. It was also his 9th win of the year on clay. "I'm really happy I got to the final and it's been challenging to play on
Melo and Cabal (Fotojump) Local hero Marcelo Melo gave the crowd at Jockey Club Brasileiro what they were hoping for: a Brazilian playing the final at the Rio Open presented by Claro. Alongside Colombian Juan Sebastian Cabal, Melo will take on Argentinian duo Maximo Gonzales and Andres Molteni at the doubles draw final, this Saturday, in his quest to giving Brazil his first ever title at the Rio Open. The match is the last one of the day at Quadra Guga Kuerten this Saturday. This Friday they beat French duo Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul by 6/4 and 6/4. It will be Melo's second final in Rio _the first one was in 2014, partnering with Spaniard David Marrero. Cabal, on the other hand, has two titles at Jockey Club, both alongside long time partner Robert Farah, who just had a baby and decided to skip the Rio Open. This is Melo and Cabal's first tournament together. "It's been nine years since I played the final here. This time I asked Cabal to play with me and it's working pretty well. The crowd here loves to watch the doubles and they've been really supportive. This energy is helping us a lot", said Melo, a former doubles' number one in the world and also Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion. "It's the first time I have the support of the Brazilian crowd and I'm enjoying it a lot. We want to give them this title tomorrow", added Cabal. Their opponents this Saturday defeated Francisco Cabral (POR) and Horacio Zeballos (ARG) by 6/3 and 6/4, and also have one Rio Open title in their resume: Gonzales was champion in Rio in 2019 playing alongside
Carlos Alcaraz (Fotojump) Carlos Alcaraz extended his winning streak since returning from two injuries and has now seven victories in 2023. This Friday, the Spaniard, reigning champion and top seed at the Rio Open presented by Claro, overcame Dusan Lajovic by 6/4 and 7/6 (0) to reach his second semifinal in a row _he won the title in Buenos Aires last weekend, when he also defeated the Serbian on his way to the championship. This Saturday he takes on Nicolas Jarry, who defeated Sebastian Baez by 6/3 and 7/6 (3), in the second match of the day at Quadra Guga Kuerten. "This was definitely my best match so far. It was a tough match and Dusan was playing at a very high level physically and mentally so I'm happy I was able to 'solve the problems' and get away with the victory", said Alcaraz, world's number two. "I'm pretty happy with the way I've been playing. After wining the US Open I had some highs and some lows, but I think I'm at a good level at this point. Obviously there's always room from improvement, but I'm satisfied with my performance since coming back from my injuries", said the Spaniard, who stayed four months away from the courts and returned to action last week, in Buenos Aires. With the win over Lajovic, Alcaraz in now 8-0 against Serbian players. Youngest ATP 500 champion, Alcaraz is trying to become the first player to win multiple Rio Open titles. He is the only remaining champion of the five that started this year's edition. His opponent at this Saturday, Jarry, is back at the semis in Rio for the first time since 2018
Q: Can you start off by telling telling us a little bit about your experience yesterday? There was a lot of coverage today in the press about your visit to Rocinha. A: Yeah, that was amazing. I'm so glad I obviously got the chance to go to the favela and experience that. Go up in the car with all the motorbikes getting in the way of us and then obviously going to play tennis with some young kids, who are really talented actually, and seeing the level that they could play. And it's such an amazing court, like on the steep hill, and then suddenly there's this pretty nice clay court. So I was really fortunate to be able to do that with my coach Facundo. And there was some good players there and definitely a really humbling experience to see all the players there and getting the chance to play with them and hopefully inspiring those players. It looked like they were so pumped to play with us and for me to play and hit the ball with them... I was really trying to push them into play hard. And then obviously also to go to Valter's house, which was right next to the court, and he's one of the best players at the club and he's a sparring partner here, so to see his house and to meet his family and then go and see the view that he has every day was spectacular. And it was a really cool experience. Then I actually got to practice with him after that. So I hope he enjoyed the day as much as I did, because it was something I'd
Cameron Norrie (Fotojump) After a scare in the first set, Cameron Norrie pulled a turnaround and won his match agains Hugo Dellien at the Rio Open to land his second semifinal in a row. Making his second appearance at the tournament, Norrie needed one hour and 55 minutes to overcame the Bolivian by 4/6, 6/1 and 6/4. This Saturday, at 5 pm (local time), at Quadra Guga Kuerten, the British takes on Bernabe Zapata Miralles, who defeated fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos Viñolas also by three sets: 6/4, 2/6 and 6/4. "I I had a very slow start. And I didn't make a lot of returns which is pretty unlike me so I was not really getting into the point and I was not playing the match how I wanted to start the match in terms of the tactics. It was not the best of starts with me, but I was pretty fortunate and I'm pretty good to stay patient not to panic too much. I was able to go from playing a really shocking first sets to some really good level. But it was a good day", said Norrie, second seeded in Rio, and who leads the ATP Tour this season in victories, with 16. Although he made it to the finals in Auckland and Buenos Aires, he is yet to win a tittle in 2023. He now takes on Zapata Miralles, who achieved his highest ranking last week (he is currently number 63 in the world), and is also in his second semifinal in a row. Last week, in Buenos Aires, he was defeated by then champion Carlos Alcaraz. "These are definitely the best two weeks of my career.