Rio Open, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ATP 500

[britbox]

DATE: Feb 20-26, 2017
SURFACE: Clay
PRIZE MONEY: $1,461,560
FIELD SIZE: 32
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Pablo Cuevas

Seeds:

1 NISHIKORI, Kei
2 THIEM, Dominic
3 CUEVAS, Pablo
4 CARRENO BUSTA, Pablo
5 RAMOS-VINOLAS, Albert
6 FERRER, David
7 LORENZI, Paolo
8 SOUSA, Joao

The Tournament:

The Rio Open presented by Claro is held on the eight clay courts, including a 6,200-seat Stadium, of the Jockey Club Brasileiro.

Kei Nishikori is the top seed and is joined by incumbent champion Pablo Cuevas and rising star Dominic Thiem.

About Rio

Travelogue by @Billie

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 its well preserved lush tropical forests. To the south of the city lies the Atlantic Ocean and to the east Guanabara Bay (Baía de Guanabara). The west is covered by Sepetiba Bay (Baía 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 to 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:

 

[britbox]

The Draw

 

[herios]

Seeds:

1. Nishikori
2. Thiem
3. Cuevas
4. Carreno-Busta
5. Ramos-Vinolas
6. Ferrer
7. Lorenzi
8. Sousa

 

[El Dude]

It is interesting how the big guys are skipping out on all of these ATP 250s/500s, at least until Dubai/Acapulco. Wonder why Rafa or Novak or Andy doesn't play Rotterdam or Rio? It would seem like a nice way to get a confidence building title under your belt.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It is interesting how the big guys are skipping out on all of these ATP 250s/500s, at least until Dubai/Acapulco. Wonder why Rafa or Novak or Andy doesn't play Rotterdam or Rio? It would seem like a nice way to get a confidence building title under your belt.

That is why they are big guys. They don't play in small tourneys unnecessarily.

 

[britbox]

Order of Play - Monday

 

[mrzz]

This year I am not going to Rio, so I cannot even try to check out some of the matches. In case someone is wondering, the tournament is on clay, same as last year, and the Olympics facilities (hards) are not used, in fact they are already compromised and deteriorated.

It is pretty hot in southwest Brazil, here in São Paulo is a living hell right now and I reckon in Rio must be even worst, as usual, so players will suffer. They should give medals to the guys who will play under sunlight.

 

[Moxie]

#NextGen alert: Today Casper Rudd (Norwegian who turned 18 in Dec.,) beat Dutra Silva pretty handily. Did get to see him play, but I don't even recognize his name. Another one to watch, I guess.

 

[mrzz]

^I watched pieces of match. This guy Rudd is good, but I tough Dutra Silva got very tight.

Just watched Cuevas be ousted by another up and coming player who I never heard off, Arthur de Greef. The kid is really good, but Cuevas was too sloppy. I can´t help but think that he has all the tools to be a real factor on clay (and I mean the masters and RG, not 250´s and 500´s).

 

[Moxie]

^I watched pieces of match. This guy Rudd is good, but I tough Dutra Silva got very tight.

Just watched Cuevas be ousted by another up and coming player who I never heard off, Arthur de Greef. The kid is really good, but Cuevas was too sloppy. I can´t help but think that he has all the tools to be a real factor on clay (and I mean the masters and RG, not 250´s and 500´s).

I had to look up de Greef, too. He's almost 25, so not so much of a kid. Some clay courters coming up, though, perhaps.

 

[mrzz]

I had to look up de Greef, too. He's almost 25, so not so much of a kid. Some clay courters coming up, though, perhaps.

Really? Wow, I could swear he was 17, maybe 18. Might be the excess of atmospheric pressure.

 

[Moxie]

Really? Wow, I could swear he was 17, maybe 18. Might be the excess of atmospheric pressure.

He looked so young in the photo, I agree. But turns 25 end of March. Ranked 138, so not SO obscure, I guess. Ruud is still at 308. I would think he'll get a bump by this win, though.

 

[herios]

Defending champion Cuevas goes out in R1, beaten by a qualifier De Greef.

 

[britbox]

Results from the Rio de Janeiro Open Men's Singles Round 1 matches on Monday

Dusan Lajovic (Serbia) beat Facundo Bagnis (Argentina) 6-4 6-4
Casper Ruud (Norway) beat Rogerio Dutra Silva (Brazil) 6-3 6-4
Roberto Carballes (Spain) beat 8-Joao Sousa (Portugal) 6-3 6-1
Arthur De Greef (Belgium) beat 3-Pablo Cuevas (Uruguay) 6-3 3-6 7-5
Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) beat Renzo Olivo (Argentina) 6-2 3-6 6-4
Nicolas Kicker (Argentina) beat Marco Cecchinato (Italy) 7-5 6-0

 

[isabelle]

another Tommy R / the Fog match

 

[isabelle]

The Fog / Tommy again

 

[mrzz]

Hard fought win for Thiago Monteiro against Gastão Elias 2x6 7x6 6x4. The Portuguese player is a good clay courter, two closely ranked players in close match. Gastão needs to sort his head a bit, he let the crowd get to him at one point.

Monteiro started slow, but steadily overpowered Elias. He has a very good forehand. The match was decided on the breaker of the second. Elias went for a winner when leading 3-4 and missed by an inch. It would bi a mini-break that would put him two points away from the win.

 

[herios]

The Fog / Tommy again

This time around, Fognini won.

 

[mrzz]

...and now Bellucci beats Nishikori! Monteiro and Bellucci to square off on round 2.

 

[mrzz]

Monteiro and Bellucci to meet on R2.