RIO DE JANEIRO/WASHINGTON, February 23, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
It’s not often that a tennis stadium is filled full of fans for a doubles final, but the Rio Open presented by Claro title match featured Brazilian wild cards Joao Fonseca and Marcelo Melo and guess what? A capacity crowd of 6,200 fans filled Quadra Guga Kuerten at the Jockey Club Brasileiro – and they cheered loudly and proudly for their home heroes Sunday afternoon. It made for a very festive, very Brazilian atmosphere.
Fonseca, 19, and Melo, 42, who were making their debut this week as a doubles duo, rallied from a set down against Constantin Frantzen of Germany and Robin Haase of the Netherlands to win 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 in one hour and 34 minutes. Only one point (61-60) separated the Brazilians from the German/Dutch duo. It was that close.
MARCELO MELO E JOÃO FONSECA SÃO OS GRANDES CAMPEÕES DO RIO OPEN 2026
A dupla brasileira vence Frantzen/Haase com 4/6 6/3 10-8, garantindo o bicampeonato para Marcelo Melo e o primeiro título na Cidade Maravilhosa para João Fonseca #RioOpen pic.twitter.com/7rcBtUGCbu
— Rio Open (@RioOpenOficial) February 22, 2026
Down 8-7 in the match tie-break, Fonseca and Melo won the last three points of the title match – including an ace on championship point by Fonseca – to capture the top prize. For the hometown favorite Fonseca, winning his first doubles title was a nice consolation after being bounced from the singles draw in the second round by Peruvian Ignacio Buse on Thursday evening. As for Melo, it was his 41st career ATP Tour doubles title.
After capturing their first title together, one could easily inquire about the 23-year age difference between Fonseca and Melo. Yet, just what does the age difference matter when there’s a lot of talent involved? Hopefully, there will be other opportunities for Fonseca and Melo to team up.
O que importa a diferença de idade quando tem MUITO TALENTO envolvido? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Parabéns Marcelo Melo e João Fonseca, o título de duplas do Rio Open 2026 é de vocês #RioOpenpic.twitter.com/pP2ldxktpS
— Rio Open (@RioOpenOficial) February 22, 2026
In accepting the runner-up trophy, Haase said during his speech: “Before the tie-break, I thought we needed an Andre Agassi return. After the tie-break, I realized I need a Fonseca return. Great that you have the experience of winning it in doubles. You will win it singles one day.”
Afterward, Fonseca and Melo were feted during an on-court trophy ceremony with native Brazilian music and they received their champion’s trophy from Hall of Famer Andre Agassi.
Andre Agassi, adopted Carioca @AndreAgassi @RioOpenOficial pic.twitter.com/75DEbcitHI
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 22, 2026
“I will win the singles trophy here one day,” Fonseca said during the trophy ceremony. “But for now the doubles is great!”
The Brazilian duo finished the Rio Open 4-0 as a team. En route to the title, Fonseca and Melo upset No. 2 seeds Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni of Argentina in the quarterfinals and saved a match point against Germany’s Jakub Schnaitter and Mark Wallner in the semifinals to become just the third all-Brazilian pair to compete in the Rio final, after Thomaz Bellucci and Daniel Dutra Silva in 2019 and Rafael Matos and Melo last year, and the second all-Brazilian team to win the title, after Matos and Melos in 2025.
The most DRAMATIC of championship points
The moment Fonseca/Melo completed the dream week in Rio!@RioOpenOficial pic.twitter.com/v2zcDbBT83
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 22, 2026
By the numbers
At age 19, Joao Fonseca became the first teenager to win a doubles title above ATP 250 level since Roger Federer in 2001. He is the youngest doubles titlist in tournament history, while Marcelo Melo, at age 42, is the oldest doubles titlist in tournament history.
“Quotable …”
“Tennis is our profession, but I think we have to have fun on the court. Everyone asks me, ‘When are you going to stop?’ As long as I’m still having fun, playing at a high level, I’ll keep going. I think we’re doing this pretty well.”
– Marcelo Melo, 42-year-old Brazilian doubles specialist, speaking after one of his victories this week.
