Tomas Etcheverry continues with a firm step in the Río Open: he advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating the Lithuanian Vilius Gaubas (126°) by 7-6 (1) y 6-4in a match that included interruptions due to rain.
The 26-year-old tennis player from La Plata, ranked 51st in the ATP world ranking, extended his good streak on the clay of the Brazilian Jockey Clubwhere he had previously surpassed his compatriot Francisco Comesaña (63°) by 3-6, 6-3 y 6-4.
With Etcheverry’s victory, Argentine tennis will have three representatives among the top eight of the Rio ATP 500. Added to its success are the recent classifications of Juan Manuel Cerúndolo (78°) y Thiago Tirante (92nd), who have already secured their presence in the quarterfinals.
Cerúndolo, ranked 78th in the ranking, earned his ticket by beating the German in a demanding duel. Yannick Hanfmann (90°) by 6-4, 6-7 (1) y 6-4. For its part, Tirante advanced thanks to the withdrawal of Francisco Cerúndolo (19th) in the round of 16 match: the player from La Plata won by 6-2 y 3-1.
The national tennis players seek to win the ATP 500 trophy in Rio de Janeiro for the third consecutive time, after the two-time championship obtained by Sebastian Baez in 2024 and 2025.
In this edition, the Buenos Aires native, fourth seed, suffered an unexpected elimination at the hands of the Portuguese Jaime Faria (147°), which surpassed it by 7-5 y 6-1.
The defeat will have negative consequences for Báez’s ranking. Not being able to defend the 500 points achieved last year, Sebita will drop at least 19 positions and leave the top 50 for the first time in two and a half years. In the next update he would appear close to 51st place, although the drop could be greater if other players achieve good results in the other tournaments this week on the main world tennis circuit.
This Friday, Etcheverry will seek qualification for the semis precisely against Faria, who after eliminating Báez achieved another very good victory this Friday against the Bosnian Damir Dzumhur by 7-6 (1) y 6-4. It will be the first crossing between the two on the circuit.
Juan Manuel Cerúndolowith great performance so far in the competition, will try to get into the top four against the Czech Vit Nettle (87°), executioner of Romanian Burruchaga (102°).
History shows that Nettle was imposed on cerundolo on two occasions: in the round of 16 of the M25 de Pardubice in 2020 and in the semifinals of the Challenger de Lima in 2024.
For his part, Tirante will have a risk test against the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo (68°), which comes from eliminating the Italian Francesco Passaro (163°).
There were two previous confrontations between the two, with a victory for each. Tabilo won the qualy of the ATP 250 of Córdoba in 2022, while Tirante won last year in the Cancun Challenger 125.
Quarter finals
- Tomás Martín Etcheverry (ARG) vs Jaime Faria (POR)
- Thiago Agustín Tirante (ARG) vs Alejandro Tabilo (CHI)
- Juan Manuel Cerúndolo (ARG) vs Vít Kopriva (CZE)
*Times to be defined
