PORTO ALEGRE/STARNBERG, May 4, 2025
Matheus Pucinelli’s spirited run at the Ano II Brasil Tennis Open ATP Challenger 50 tournament came to an end on Saturday, as the Brazilian fell to Argentina’s Santiago Rodriguez Taverna in a hard-fought semifinal at the Associacao Leopoldina Juvenil in Porto Alegre. Taverna prevailed 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2 to secure his place in Sunday’s championship match.
Despite forcing a deciding set with a gutsy tiebreak win in the second, Pucinelli couldn’t maintain momentum in the third, as the Argentine pulled away to seal victory.
“I’m really happy to reach another final after such a battle against a great player like Pucinelli,” said the 25-year-old Taverna, who finished runner-up last week at the Tucuman Challenger in Argentina. “I feel I’m doing things well, and at any moment, I believe the title will come.”
Standing in Taverna’s way is Spain’s Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo. The 26-year-old staged a comeback in the day’s other semifinal, rallying past Argentina’s Alex Barrena 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 to deny Barrena a second consecutive final.
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Chasing his maiden Challenger title, Sanchez Izquierdo invited local support for Sunday’s final, tapping into the region’s historic sporting rivalry. “I know there’s a rivalry with Argentina, so I invite the fans to come cheer for me and help bring the title to Spain,” he smiled.
Bolivian Duo Capture Doubles Crown
In Saturday’s doubles final, Bolivia’s Juan Carlos Prado Angelo and Federico Zeballos clinched the Brasil Tennis Open title with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Argentina’s Lautaro Midon and Gonzalo Villanueva.
Playing together for the first time, Prado Angelo, a former junior World No. 1, and Zeballos secured 50 ATP Ranking points and $2,980 in prize money for the win.
“I’m very happy—we won the title in our first week together,” said Zeballos. Prado Angelo added, “I’m thrilled to have won this title, playing great tennis at one of the finest clubs in the Americas.”
