Preview ATP Rio Open 2025: Zverev and Musetti lead the charge, Joao Fonseca’s big chance to impress at home

Everything is set for the start of the ATP 500 Rio Open 2025, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from February 17 to 23 at the Jockey Club Brasileiro. Our preview takes a look at this highly anticipated tournament, the most important one in South America, which will hold its 11th edition, led by Alexander Zverev and Lorenzo Musetti.

The Europeans will be joined by the biggest names in South American tennis today: Argentinians Francisco Cerúndolo, Tomás Martín Etcheverry, and defending champion Sebastián Báez; Chileans Alejandro Tabilo and Nicolás Jarry; as well as local star João Fonseca.

The tournament, played on clay courts, held its first edition in 2014 and has seen renowned champions in the past, including Rafael Nadal (2014), David Ferrer (2015), Dominic Thiem (2017), and Carlos Alcaraz (2022).

Alexander Zverev (No. 2) is the main favourite for the title, despite the doubts left by his performance at the Argentina Open this week. He will debut against China's Yunchaokete Bu (No. 69), whom he has never faced before. The German had a solid start in Buenos Aires, defeating Dušan Lajović, but fell in the quarter-finals to local player Francisco Cerúndolo (6-3, 3-6, 2-6).

He later criticised the local crowd, saying: "I loved Argentina. The only problem is that the public don't know how to behave during a tennis match. It's sad because the organisation is brilliant, the tournament is excellent, and the people who work here are great. But the public makes life difficult for you if you're not an Argentine player."

If he advances, his main challenger in this half of the draw is Chilean Nicolás Jarry (No. 40), who will start against a qualifier. However, Jarry has struggled with consistency for some time now. Last week, he lost to Diego Schwartzman in the Argentine's farewell match and continues to drop in the rankings after his impressive run at the 2024 Rome Open, where he reached the final before falling to ‘Sascha’ Zverev.

Francisco Cerúndolo (No. 28) and Tomás Martín Etcheverry (No. 44) are the other seeded players in the top half of the draw. Cerúndolo, who reached the Argentina Open final this week, will debut against Frenchman Hugo Gaston (No. 91), while Etcheverry will face the talented Corentin Moutet (No. 66), who has already delivered strong performances during the South American Golden Swing. However, João Fonseca (No. 99) also emerges as a potential second-round opponent for the winner of Etcheverry/Moutet.

The Brazilian, although not yet highly ranked, has proven that his ranking is misleading. He is climbing rapidly and has already secured a spot in the live top 75. Fonseca will have the full support of the home crowd, who, for the first time in a long while, have real hopes of seeing a local champion in their 18-year-old star. He will start his campaign against Alexandre Müller (No. 58).

Italian Lorenzo Musetti (No. 16) leads the bottom half of the draw and will face a qualifier in the first round. If he advances, local favourite Thiago Seyboth Wild and Jaume Munar appear as potential opponents. In Musetti’s quarter, Pedro Martínez (No. 41) and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (No. 60) stand out as the main threats to the Italian, at least until the semi-finals.

The 23-year-old had a strong start at the Argentina Open a week ago, but a right soleus injury forced him to withdraw before his quarter-final match against Martínez. However, the injury was not serious, and he is set to return to action this week at the Rio Open.

Other seeded players in the bottom half include Alejandro Tabilo (No. 27), who has struggled with consistency and urgently needs ranking points to avoid further drops. The Chilean clay-court specialist will face a qualifier in the opening round, with Thiago Monteiro (No. 100) and Facundo Díaz Acosta (No. 75) as potential second-round opponents.

Defending champion Sebastián Báez (No. 31) will begin his title defence against India’s Sumit Nagal (No. 129). Should he progress, he will face either Mariano Navone (No. 47) or Roberto Carballés Baena (No. 50). Without a doubt, this tournament is dominated by clay-court specialists, with South American and Spanish players making up the majority of the main draw.