Tomas Martin Etcheverry clinched his first ATP Tour title at the Rio Open by defeating Alejandro Tabilo in a 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 championship match. Despite a rain delay postponing his semi-final, the Argentine player showed resilience by winning two matches on Sunday to secure the ATP 500 title.
Expressing his joy, Etcheverry described the victory as a dream come true after working hard with his team. This win marked a significant milestone for him, especially after facing defeat in three previous ATP Tour finals.
In a thrilling comeback, Etcheverry, initially trailing Tabilo, rallied back from a physically demanding situation to claim the title. The 26-year-old’s determination and effort paid off as he overcame the challenges to emerge victorious, as reported by ATP.
Etcheverry’s victory also included defeating Tabilo in the Buenos Aires quarter-finals last week, extending his lead in the ATP Head-to-Head series to 2-0. With this win, he climbed 18 places in the ATP Live Rankings to reach No. 33, marking his return to the Top 40 for the first time since February last year.
In the men’s doubles final, Brazilian pair Joao Fonseca and Felipe Melo secured victory over their opponents, Constantin Frantzen and Robin Haase, with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 10-8. This win marked Fonseca’s first home trophy and Melo’s second consecutive title, highlighting their success in the tournament.
