{"id":482148,"date":"2026-02-18T03:41:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T03:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/482148\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T03:41:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T03:41:08","slug":"hometown-hero-joao-fonseca-earns-first-win-of-the-season-in-rio-de-janeiro-atp-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/482148\/","title":{"rendered":"Hometown hero Joao Fonseca earns first win of the season in Rio de Janeiro | ATP Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rio de Janeiro
\n Hometown hero Fonseca earns first win of the season in Rio de Janeiro<\/p>\n

Berrettini, Cerundolo, Etcheverry advance at the ATP 500\n<\/p>\n

February 18, 2026<\/p>\n

Rio Open presented by Claro<\/p>\n

Joao Fonseca in action on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro.
\n By Vishakha Khandelwal<\/p>\n

There is no place quite like home to find some rhythm again. <\/p>\n

Following an injury setback and a series of early exits, hometown hero Joao Fonseca<\/a> earned his first win of the season Tuesday at the Rio Open presented by Claro<\/a> by defeating countryman Thiago Monteiro<\/a> 7-6(1), 6-1 in the opening round.<\/p>\n

“It’s just amazing having my first victory of the year [here] after a tough few months,” Fonseca said. “It’s just super special, so I’m very happy.”<\/p>\n

In his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against Monteiro, Fonseca delivered a dominant serving display. He fired seven aces, including two in a clutch opening set tie-break, and won 84 per cent (36\/43) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Buoyed by a boisterous home crowd, the 19-year-old claimed the win in one hour and 24 minutes, during which he did not face a break point. He will face Ignacio Buse<\/a> in the next round.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cATP\"\/<\/a><\/p>\n

In other opening-round action, Matteo Berrettini<\/a> held firm to defeat lucky loser Tomas Barrios Vera<\/a> 7-6(1), 7-5. The match featured only one break of serve when Berrettini broke Barrios Vera in the final game to seal his two-hour, 25-minute win against the Chilean.<\/p>\n

Tomas Martin Etcheverry<\/a> and top seed Francisco Cerundolo<\/a> both advanced to the second round by winning an all-Argentine clash. Etcheverry defeated Francisco Comesana<\/a> 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 and Cerundolo cruised past Mariano Navone<\/a> 6-3, 6-4. His younger brother, Juan Manuel Cerundolo<\/a>, upset second seed Luciano Darderi<\/a> 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. The victory came just two days after Francisco defeated Darderi in the Buenos Aires final.<\/p>\n

Watch Cerundolo vs. Navone highlights:<\/p>\n

Other winners on Tuesday included Roman Andres<\/a> Burruchaga and lucky loser Francesco Passaro<\/a>. Burruchaga defeated fifth seed Camilo Ugo Carabelli<\/a> 6-3, 6-4 and Passaro beat Dino Prizmic<\/a> 6-3, 6-4.<\/p>\n

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