Top seed at this year’s edition of the Rio Open presented by Claro, Alexander Zverev is set to make his debut at the clay courts of Jockey Club Brasileiro this Tuesday, not before 7pm, local time, when he plays his first round match against Chinese Bu Yunchaokete at Court Guga Kuerten.
Runner-up at the Australian Open, the German is playing in South America for the first time since facing Brazil at the Davis Cup in 2022.
" I'm looking forward to playing the tournament here for the first time. I'm expecting to hopefully play better than I did in Buenos Aires last week, and, yeah, hopefully compete for winning the tournament”, said Zverev, who looks to be the highest-ranked champion in Rio since Rafael Nadal, then number one in the world, won the first edition of the tournament in 2014.
It will be Zverev's first clash against 23-year-old Yunchaokete.
Also making his debut at the 2025 edition is Brazilian rising star João Fonseca, fresh from his first ATP title in Buenos Aires last Sunday. The 18-year-old sensation takes on Frenchman Alexandre Muller also at Court Guga Kuerten at the second match of the night session.
Last year Fonseca won his first ATP Tour match at the same court on route to end up the season with the Next Gen Finals title. In 2024 Fonseca defeated then number 36 Arthur Fils, also from France.
“I don’t know much about Muller to be honest, we never played or practiced before, so I’ll talk to my coach later today to see how he plays and how to be prepared for my match. I feel good despite the injury in Buenos Aires and hopefully it’s going to be a great match”, said the Brazilian.
Reining champion of the Rio Open, Argentinian Sebastian Baez takes on Indian Sumit Nagal at the first match of the day at Court Guga Kuerten, at 4:30pm, local time.
Baez aims to be the first two-time champion in tournament history _only Carlos Alcaraz and Diego Schwartzman made multiple finals in Rio.
ORDER OF PLAY - TUESDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2025
Quadra Guga Kuerten - start 16:30
[5] Sebastian Baez (ARG) vs Sumit Nagal (IND)
Not Before 19:00
[1] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs Yunchaokete Bu (CHN)
[SE] Joao Fonseca (BRA) vs Alexandre Muller (FRA)
Quadra 1 - start 16:30
Corentin Moutet (FRA) vs [8] Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG)
[4] Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) vs Hugo Gaston (FRA)
[WC] Orlando Luz (BRA) / Felipe Meligeni Alves (BRA) vs [2] Ariel Behar (URU) / Robert Galloway (USA)
Nicolas Barrientos (COL) / Gregoire Jacq (FRA) vs [WC] Marcelo Demoliner (BRA) / Fernando Romboli (BRA)
Quadra 2 - start 16:30
Dusan Lajovic (SRB) vs Damir Dzumhur (BIH)
Mariano Navone (ARG) vs Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP)
[7] Pedro Martinez (ESP) vs [LL] Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ARG)
Quadra 4 - start 16:30
Luciano Darderi (ITA) vs [Q] Hugo Dellien (BOL)
[Q] Tomas Barrios Vera (CHI) vs [LL] Jaime Faria (POR)
Alexander Erler (AUT) / Constantin Frantzen (GER) vs [Q] Francisco Cabral (POR) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED)
Followed By
After suitable rest - Luciano Darderi (ITA) / Mariano Navone (ARG) vs Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) / Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG
Runner-up at the Australian Open, the German is playing in South America for the first time since facing Brazil at the Davis Cup in 2022.
" I'm looking forward to playing the tournament here for the first time. I'm expecting to hopefully play better than I did in Buenos Aires last week, and, yeah, hopefully compete for winning the tournament”, said Zverev, who looks to be the highest-ranked champion in Rio since Rafael Nadal, then number one in the world, won the first edition of the tournament in 2014.
It will be Zverev's first clash against 23-year-old Yunchaokete.
Also making his debut at the 2025 edition is Brazilian rising star João Fonseca, fresh from his first ATP title in Buenos Aires last Sunday. The 18-year-old sensation takes on Frenchman Alexandre Muller also at Court Guga Kuerten at the second match of the night session.
Last year Fonseca won his first ATP Tour match at the same court on route to end up the season with the Next Gen Finals title. In 2024 Fonseca defeated then number 36 Arthur Fils, also from France.
“I don’t know much about Muller to be honest, we never played or practiced before, so I’ll talk to my coach later today to see how he plays and how to be prepared for my match. I feel good despite the injury in Buenos Aires and hopefully it’s going to be a great match”, said the Brazilian.
Reining champion of the Rio Open, Argentinian Sebastian Baez takes on Indian Sumit Nagal at the first match of the day at Court Guga Kuerten, at 4:30pm, local time.
Baez aims to be the first two-time champion in tournament history _only Carlos Alcaraz and Diego Schwartzman made multiple finals in Rio.
ORDER OF PLAY - TUESDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2025
Quadra Guga Kuerten - start 16:30
[5] Sebastian Baez (ARG) vs Sumit Nagal (IND)
Not Before 19:00
[1] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs Yunchaokete Bu (CHN)
[SE] Joao Fonseca (BRA) vs Alexandre Muller (FRA)
Quadra 1 - start 16:30
Corentin Moutet (FRA) vs [8] Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG)
[4] Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) vs Hugo Gaston (FRA)
[WC] Orlando Luz (BRA) / Felipe Meligeni Alves (BRA) vs [2] Ariel Behar (URU) / Robert Galloway (USA)
Nicolas Barrientos (COL) / Gregoire Jacq (FRA) vs [WC] Marcelo Demoliner (BRA) / Fernando Romboli (BRA)
Quadra 2 - start 16:30
Dusan Lajovic (SRB) vs Damir Dzumhur (BIH)
Mariano Navone (ARG) vs Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP)
[7] Pedro Martinez (ESP) vs [LL] Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ARG)
Quadra 4 - start 16:30
Luciano Darderi (ITA) vs [Q] Hugo Dellien (BOL)
[Q] Tomas Barrios Vera (CHI) vs [LL] Jaime Faria (POR)
Alexander Erler (AUT) / Constantin Frantzen (GER) vs [Q] Francisco Cabral (POR) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED)
Followed By
After suitable rest - Luciano Darderi (ITA) / Mariano Navone (ARG) vs Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) / Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG
