Zverev Advances Amid Tough Competition at Rio Open

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Alexander Zverev battled through extreme heat and fierce competition Wednesday, securing his place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Rio Open presented by Claro. The defending champion, Sebastian Baez, also progressed, alongside several notable players in a thrilling day of tennis.

Zverev, the top seed and World No. 2, made his debut at this ATP 500 event and triumphed over Kazakh player Alexander Shevchenko with a scoreline of 7-6(1), 7-6(6) after two hours and 28 minutes of grueling play. In a tightly contested match, Zverev showcased his determination, pulling through despite trailing 2/5 in the second-set tie-break.

“I thought it was a pretty good match,” Zverev said in his on-court interview. “It’s hot and humid. You go to your limits sometimes physically. I’m happy with the win and definitely happy with the improvement from yesterday.”

From the very first game, Zverev faced a formidable challenge, taking 10 minutes to break Shevchenko’s serve. Shevchenko, however, quickly recovered, serving for the set at 5-3, reminiscent of Zverev’s first-round match, where he also faced a break point opportunity. Zverev raised his level, winning 15 of 16 points during critical moments.

Despite leading 4-1 in the second set, Zverev struggled briefly, saying, “I was physically struggling at 4-1. The air is very heavy here. I caught myself then afterwards and obviously happy I didn’t have to play a third set.” Zverev has now reached his first ATP 500 clay quarter-final outside his hometown tournament in Hamburg.

His next opponent will be Argentine player Tomás Martín Etcheverry, who earlier faced a remarkable match against sixth seed Blaz Rola, beating him 7-6(4), 6-7(1), 7-6(6) in a three-hour and 14-minute battle. Despite losing a match point at a critical juncture, Etcheverry maintained composure to secure the win.

In matches that highlighted the depth of talent at the event, defending champion Baez faced off against compatriot Camilo Ugo Carabelli, overcoming him 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. Baez began the deciding set down 0-2 but bounced back, claiming six of the next seven games. “I’m proud of my fight,” Baez stated after the match.

Meanwhile, another notable match saw Francisco Cerundolo rally from a set down against Luciano Darderi, winning 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the quarter-finals. The 26-year-old remarked on his perseverance, “Last week I played a lot. This week also, super humid here. But after that, I started playing better.”

Fans can look forward to exciting matches as the Rio Open continues, with top players showcasing their skills in hopes of advancing toward the finals.