RIO DE JANEIRO/WASHINGTON, February 22, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
For the second time in tournament history, the ATP 500 Rio Open presented by Claro has reached the semifinal round without a Top 50 player remaining among the last four. It presents a golden opportunity during this year’s Golden Swing of South American cities – Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Santiago – for a champion to rise from the lower-half of the ATP Top 100 players. That is, if the rain that has dampened the Jockey Club Brasileiro grounds the past few days stays away.
Você sabia❓
Nosso cabeça de chave 8 esse ano, Tomas Etcheverry, registrou nas quartas de final sua 100ª vitória na carreira
Ele enfrenta agora Vit Kopriva na Quadra Guga Kuerten por um lugar na final, transmissão ao vivo no sportv 3 #RioOpen pic.twitter.com/r7pSUXTUcM
— Rio Open (@RioOpenOficial) February 21, 2026
As action got underway Saturday in the first semifinal on Quadra Guga Kuerten, between No. 51 Tomas Etcheverry of Argentina and No. 87 Vit Kopriva, it took less than an hour before rain sent the players to the locker room and fans looking for cover with Kopriva up a break and serving for the first set at 5-4. Unfortunately for both competitors, play never resumed Saturday despite an attempt at 9:45 p.m (Rio Time) to restart the match after about a four-hour delay, when players returned from the locker room and warmed-up. However, they were soon pulled off the court by chair umpire Fabio Souza before play could resume and the semifinal was called off for good about 10:30 p.m. local time.
The second semifinal featuring No. 68 Alejandro Tabilo of Chile against surprising No. 91 Ignacio Buse of Peru never took court on Quadra 1. Tabilo didn’t finish his quarterfinal tussle against Thiago Agustin Tirante until nearly 2 a.m. Saturday due to numerous rain stoppages Friday evening.
Tabilo garante a última vaga das semis com 7/6 (2) 6/7 (6) 6/1 sobre Tirante
Ele enfrenta Ignacio Buse por uma vaga na final!#RioOpen pic.twitter.com/lsJuqoCxWg
— Rio Open (@RioOpenOficial) February 21, 2026
Both semifinals have been rescheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday morning on their respective courts with the final scheduled for not before 5:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
Around the Jockey Club Brasileiro
Before the rain arrived and eventually postponed both singles semifinals to Sunday, the doubles semifinals took place Saturday afternoon and gave Brazilian fans something to cheer about.
First, Joao Fonseca, 19, and Marcelo Melo, 42, of Brazil advanced to Sunday afternoon’s title match with a 6-2, 2-6, 13-11 victory over Jakub Schnaitter and Mark Wallner of Germany, in one hour and 29 minutes on Quadra Guga Kuerten.
BRASIL NA FINAL DE DUPLAS MAIS UMA VEZ
Melo/Fonseca fazem mais um grande jogo, vencem Schnaitter/Wallner por 6/2 2/6 13-11 e estão na final,onde vão enfrentar os vencedores de (3) Andreozzi/Guinard x Frantzen/Haase#RioOpen pic.twitter.com/YARPduxsn5
— Rio Open (@RioOpenOficial) February 21, 2026
Fonseca and Melo, who are playing together for the first time, rallied from down 2-5 and saved a match point during the match tie-break at 8-9 before pulling out the victory. They outpointed the German duo 62-56.
While Fonseca is through to his first ATP Tour doubles final, Melo will be appearing in his 79th tour-level doubles final and chasing after his 41st tour-level doubles title.
Primeira vez jogando juntos ✅
Primeira vez jogando juntos em casa ✅
Primeira vitória ✅
Primeira vez nas quartas ✅
Primeira vez na semi ✅
Primeira vez na FINAL ✅Marcelo Melo João Fonseca VÃO BRIGAR PELO TÍTULO de duplas amanhã!#RioOpenpic.twitter.com/k7APO0wdDa
— Rio Open (@RioOpenOficial) February 21, 2026
In the second semifinal, Constantin Frantzen of Germany and Robin Haase of the Netherlands, finalists two weeks ago in Montpellier, defeated No. 3 seeds Guido Andreozzi of Argentina and Manuel Guinard of France, 7-6 (15), 2-6, 10-8, in one hour and 55 minutes on Quadra 1 to reach their second final of the season.
Frantzen and Haase, who converted two of three break-point chances, were outpointed by Andreozzi and Guinard 77-74.
Sunday’s doubles final is scheduled to start at not before 2:30 p.m. (Rio Time).
Estão definidos os adversários de Melo/Fonseca na final de duplas: Frantzen/Haase, que derrubaram os cabeças 3 Andreozzi/Guinard por 7/6 (15) 2/6 10-8 #RioOpen pic.twitter.com/uAdpATlkCM
— Rio Open (@RioOpenOficial) February 21, 2026
Agassi guest of honor this week at Rio Open
Andre Agassi, que já foi #1 do mundo e campeão de 8 Grand Slams, falou em coletiva no #RioOpen:
“É ótimo estar de volta e ter uma desculpa pra vir ao Brasil, são muitas lembranças aqui. O clube parece muito bonito, tanto do ponto de vista das instalações, quanto da paisagem.” pic.twitter.com/FVr1SDSb9b
— Rio Open (@RioOpenOficial) February 21, 2026
“As pessoas acham que ele deve ganhar todas as partidas. É um grande elogio. Eu o encorajaria a não viver de acordo com as expectativas alheias, não é sua responsabilidade. Sempre buscar melhorar é sua responsabilidade. Espero que ele tenha conforto nessa separação.”#RioOpen pic.twitter.com/C0FMwxBJjp
— Rio Open (@RioOpenOficial) February 21, 2026
Sunday’s Rio Open order of play
By the numbers
In the 11 previous editions of the Rio Open, there has been an Argentine in the singles final six times. Diego Schwartzman was twice a finalist, in 2018 and 2022. Sebastian Baez was a finalist each of the past two years, in 2024 and 2025. Guido Pella reached the finals in 2016 and Mariano Navone in 2024. Tomas Martin Etcheverry hopes to add to those totals on Sunday.
“Quotable …”‘
“It’s great to be back and have an excuse to come to Brazil, there are so many memories here. The club looks very beautiful, both from the point of view of the facilities and the landscape.”
– Hall of Famer Andre Agassi, who has been a visitor this week at the Rio Open and is scheduled to feature during Sunday’s trophy presentation after the singles final.
