Frenchman Alexandre Muller spoiled the homecoming of Brazilian teen Joao Fonseca at the Rio Open presented by Claro Tuesday night, capitalising on a nervous and error-strewn showing from the rising star to claim a 6-1, 7-6(4) victory.
Silencing fans who were expected to bring the feel of Carnival to the Jockey Club, Muller took advantage of 34 unforced errors from the 18-year-old, who came into the tournament under the weight of heavy expectations after winning his first tour-level title last week in Buenos Aires.
"It was tough to play against such a great player and perhaps 5,000 [fans], but I'm very happy to get the victory today," Muller said. "I was feeling calm in half of the match. I didn't take my chances to take the break in the second set and then he was playing better and better. I played a great tie-break to finish the match."
TDI Insights showed that Muller spent 31 per cent of the first set in attack, double the 15 per cent rate of Fonseca, who is accustomed to dictating terms to his opponents. When Fonseca did try to take charge, errors flowed freely from both wings (17 forehand, 15 backhand, according to Infosys ATP Stats).
In top form from start to finish 💯
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 19, 2025
Alexandre Muller stops the party in Rio after knocking out the hometown favourite, Fonseca, 6-1 7-6(4).@RioOpenOficial | #RioOpen pic.twitter.com/sw4h3eFd75
Muller stayed composed in the second set when Fonseca brought the crowd into the match for the first time, and produced a polished performance to ward off the Next Gen ATP Finals champion's attempted comeback. Although he was unable to convert break point opportunities in three Fonseca service games in the second set, Muller claimed a mini-break at the beginning of the tie-break and never looked back.
Muller, 28, claimed his first match win since capturing his maiden ATP Tour title in the first week of the season. He next faces a first-time Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with eight-seeded Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Muller entered the week at No. 60 in the PIF ATP Rankings, just four places shy of his career-high ranking.
In other action, fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo, who Fonseca beat in the Buenos Aires final, earned a 7-6(9), 6-0 win against Frenchman Hugo Gaston. Cerundolo twice served for the opening set, yet was forced to a tie-break, during which he saved five set points. The Argentine quickly deflated Gaston’s hopes of an upset, racing through the second set to finish the one-hour, 41-minute match.
Lucky loser Camilo Ugo Carabelli earned the highest-ranked win of his career by defeating World No. 37 Pedro Martinez 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
