RIO DE JANEIRO/STARNBERG, December 15, 2021
Three Brazilians booked their second-round spots at the Rio De Janeiro Tennis Classic on Tuesday. Qualifier Rafael Matos continued his fine run of form by edging out his compatriot and wild card entry Wilson Leite 6-4, 0-6, 6-2.
The 25-year-old doubles specialist from Porto Alegre, who is ranked inside the Top 70 of the ATP Doubles Rankings, showed his skills in the singles competition of the $52,080 ATP Challenger hard-court event. Matos broke Leite’s serve three times to secure victory in two hours and six minutes.
“It was very hot (31 degrees) and a physically tough match, but I managed to play two good sets and left the court already thinking about resting and preparing for the next match,” said Matos, a winner of seven ATP Challenger doubles titles this season.
Up next for the leftie will be Daniel Dutra da Silva. The 33-year-old emerged victorious from the all-Brazilian affair with No. 6 seed Orlando Luz, winning 7-6(6), 6-4 after one hour and 37 minutes.
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In other action, World No. 606 Mateus Alves recorded his first match win at Challenger level. The 20-year-old from Brazil defeated Matias Franco Descotte of Argentina 7-6(3), 6-4. Alves struck six aces and won 80 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after two hours and five minutes.
“I’m very happy with my first Challenger singles win. I’ve been working really hard for this moment, especially in the last few weeks that I played the Challengers here in Brazil. It’s been a good experience. Today was a test, I played very well from beginning to the end. I was very focused during the match,” said Alves.
The alternate from Sao Jose do Rio Preto will next play Bogdan Bobrov of Russia.
RIO De Janeiro Tennis Classic – Tuesday Results
First Round
Genaro Alberto Olivieri (ARG) d. Guilherme Clezar (BRA) – 5/7 6/4 6/3
Roy Smith (USA) d. Federico Zeballos (BOL) – 6/4 7/6(4)
Johan Nikes (SUI) d. Luca Castelnuovo (SUI) – 6/2 6/4
Rafael Matos (BRA) d. Wilson Leite (BRA) – 6/4 0/6 6/2
Nicolas Kicker (ARG) d. Alejandro Gonzalez (COL) – 7/5 6/3
Bogdan Bobrov (RUS) d. Roberto Cid Subervi (DOM) – 6/3 1/0
Mateus Alves (BRA) d. Matias Franco Descotte (ARG) – 7/6(3) 6/4
Daniel Dutra Silva (BRA) d. Orlando Luz (BRA) – 7/6(6) 6/4
Alejandro Gomez (COL) d. Juan Pablo Ficovich (ARG) – 4/6 6/1 6/2
