Rio Open 2019, Brazil, ATP 500

[britbox]

DATE: Feb 18-24, 2019
SURFACE: Clay
PRIZE MONEY: $1,786,690
FIELD SIZE: 32
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Diego Schwartzman

Seeds:

1 THIEM, Dominic
2 FOGNINI, Fabio
3 CECCHINATO, Marco
4 SCHWARTZMAN, Diego
5 SOUSA, Joao
6 LAJOVIC, Dusan
7 JAZIRI, Malek
8 JARRY, Nicolas

The Tournament:

The Rio Open, also known as the Rio Open presented by Claro is played on 8 outdoor clay courts at the Jockey Club Brasileiro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The show court is within in a 6,200-seat arena.

Dominic Thiem heads the field and is joined by defending champion Diego Schwartzman.

About Rio

Rio lives up to its pet name as the Marvelous City with its white beaches, towering mountains, and scenic docks.

It is the second largest city in Brazil and the state capital of Rio de Janeiro. The bustling city is best known for its sandy beaches, carnivals, football matches, music and it's well preserved lush tropical forests. To the south of the city lies the Atlantic Ocean and to the east Guanabara Bay (BaÃa de Guanabara). The west is covered by Sepetiba Bay (Baa de Sepetiba).

Rio has a tropical climate due to the forests surrounding it. Most of the year, the climate is warm and humid with exceptions due to altitude, vegetation, and closeness to the ocean. Occasionally temperatures can reach a high of 40°C but mostly they hover around 30°C. Regions which are near the sea are somewhat cooler due to the ocean winds.

Tourism Guide:



Fun Facts About Rio:

Rio de Janeiro means January River, but the river is actually a bay

The statue of Christ the Redeemer was elected one of the world’s new seven wonders

Rio de Janeiro has the world’s bluest sky

Rio’s carnival party is the biggest carnival in the world

Every Carnival, the city is run by the mythical King Momo

 

[britbox]

The Draw:

 

[Moxie]

@britbox: I do love the Fun Facts. And just to let you know someone read them: who says that Rio has the world's bluest sky?

 

[mrzz]

@britbox: I do love the Fun Facts. And just to let you know someone read them: who says that Rio has the world's bluest sky?

"Cariocas", who else? They also used to think that earth was more perfectly round over there, then they discover that earth is flat.

The King Momo part is actually valid for a lot of Brazilian cities.

 

[Moxie]

"Cariocas", who else? They also used to think that earth was more perfectly round over there, then they discover that earth is flat.

The King Momo part is actually valid for a lot of Brazilian cities.

If the Earth were flat, the cats would sit on the edge and push everything off.

Rio is one of the best combinations I've ever seen of big metropolis and amazingly beautiful natural setting. But I think you're right that the "Cariocas" are selling this idea of their "bluest sky." With so much ocean and mountain, there's too much diffusion. The bluest one has to be in the desert somewhere.

 

[mrzz]

If the Earth were flat, the cats would sit on the edge and push everything off.

Rio is one of the best combinations I've ever seen of big metropolis and amazingly beautiful natural setting. But I think you're right that the "Cariocas" are selling this idea of their "bluest sky." With so much ocean and mountain, there's too much diffusion. The bluest one has to be in the desert somewhere.

You guessed right and obviously I want to keep on the blue sky topic, but I am a good boy (once in a blue moon) and in order not to derail the thread I answered it here.

 

[britbox]

@britbox: I do love the Fun Facts. And just to let you know someone read them: who says that Rio has the world's bluest sky?

@mrzz told me. His exact words were:

O céu do Rio é mais azul que a velha coleção de vídeos privados de Hugh Heffners

 

[Horsa]

"Cariocas", who else? They also used to think that earth was more perfectly round over there, then they discover that earth is flat.

The King Momo part is actually valid for a lot of Brazilian cities.

Really, I thought the earth was an oblate spheroid? What century are they living in?

 

[mrzz]

Jarry lost to Baena in his third straight first round exit. I watched most of the match and I guess I can see what is happening. There is a terrible combination when a young and aggressive players climbs up the rankings at reasonably fast pace. Suddenly he has much more money in his pocket and it is just too easy to get distracted. But an aggressive player needs to be always sharp, specially a guy like Jarry, who is one of the most aggressive players I ever saw. Today he just made 70+ UFE's, you cannot win like that. Half of those he missed the line by an inch.. so it is not a complete tragedy, but he needs that little bit extra that now he simply does not have. I still have a good feeling about his future, though. Actually with good practice he could be a very good grass player. He has the serve, a very good side spin and a decent slice. And he serves and volley on clay...

About Baena, a good player. Lacks power, but tries to counterbalance it with angles. But today all he needed to do was to keep on playing.

 

[Moxie]

Djere just took out #1 seed Thiem in straights, and FAA took out #2 Fognini.

 

[mrzz]

Thiem is just a shadow of himself. He needed a MTO right at the beginning, and I hope it explains the drop in level, which is huge. The backhand, from one of the best on tour, just became a plain liability. Sad to see.

FAA played well, with authority, and sent Fognini to his don't bother to play mode quite quickly. Merits to him. Some nerves to close, but played quite well. He has a good clay courter next, not a gimme for sure.

 

[herios]

More surprises today. After the top 2 seeds, #3 and Sunday's winner Cecchinato also busted by Bedene.
Munar has a good win over Mayer and Lajovic is dumped by Norrie.

 

[Moxie]

Thiem is just a shadow of himself. He needed a MTO right at the beginning, and I hope it explains the drop in level, which is huge. The backhand, from one of the best on tour, just became a plain liability. Sad to see.

FAA played well, with authority, and sent Fognini to his don't bother to play mode quite quickly. Merits to him. Some nerves to close, but played quite well. He has a good clay courter next, not a gimme for sure.

This is where Thiem has to take himself in hand and decide what his goals are for this clay season. We know he's a classic over-player. Personally, and obviously, I don't care if he blows his chances at RG by poor choices. As to Fognini...he is what he is.

 

[herios]

This is where Thiem has to take himself in hand and decide what his goals are for this clay season. We know he's a classic over-player. Personally, and obviously, I don't care if he blows his chances at RG by poor choices. As to Fognini...he is what he is.

Thiem is an idiot if he is not 100% well and he chse to play this clay mini seadon just because it was in his schedule.
About his chances at RG, I never thought they were that great to begin with.

 

[Moxie]

Thiem is an idiot if he is not 100% well and he chse to play this clay mini seadon just because it was in his schedule.
About his chances at RG, I never thought they were that great to begin with.

You're allowed to think that, but he's #8 in the world, considered best on clay, of his talents, and was in the RG final last year. Either you don't think much of him as a clay player, or much of his chances to win a Major.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

thiem must be suffering the after effects of his ao illness. what a depressing loss.

 

[herios]

FAA played well, with authority, and sent Fognini to his don't bother to play mode quite quickly. Merits to him. Some nerves to close, but played quite well. He has a good clay courter next, not a gimme for sure.

Felix played Garin just a week ago in Buenos Aires and lost that match in 3 sets.

 

[Moxie]

Jaume Munar is off to a good start for the year. I think they said 4th QF appearance in 6 events, having only made one last year. He's up to NCH #57 in the live rankings. Beat Cameron Norrie in a tight one.

 

[Carol]

Does someone know why Munar was so mad during the last match and arguing with the Umpire Chair?

 

[Moxie]

Does someone know why Munar was so mad during the last match and arguing with the Umpire Chair?

I watched a bit of the last with the sound off. It all seemed to be resolved by the end. Munar was up a break, though, I think, so you have to think it was a call that cost him the break back.