Carlos Alcaraz already knows his way in the Rio Open 2022, a category 500 tournament that is being played this week on clay in the Brazilian city. The Murcian, who played his first professional tournament precisely in Brazil two years ago, will debut in the first round against the Spanish Jaume Munar, an expert on that surface. Then a hypothetical duel with Delbonis would await him, before meeting again with his last executioner at the Australian Open, Matteo Berrettin i, first seeded in Brazil.
This week will mark two years since Carlos Alcaraz landed on the professional circuit. The Murcian played his first ATP match at the Río Open in 2020, making his debut with victory against Albert Ramos at just 16 years old. Two years later he returns to the tournament that saw him born and does so as a player already established among the top 30 on the circuit, although with the same ambition and desire to continue making great strides in his career. In Brazil, he aspires to win his first ATP 500 category title, although the draw has not been kind to Juan Carlos Ferrero’s pupil.
The draw for the Río Open 2022 draw has brought about a fratricidal duel between Carlos Alcaraz and Jaume Munar , both located in the upper part of the draw. The Murcian and the Balearic already met last year in the semifinals of the Any Tech 365 Andalucía Open, in Marbella, with victory for Munar (7-6, 6-4). The pupil of Juan Carlos Ferrero must this time try to beat the Mallorcan to continue advancing in the tournament, with a possible reunion with his last executioner: Matteo Berrettini, number 7 in the ATP and first seed in Brazil.
Before that possible rematch against the Italian, Carlos Alcaraz will also have to overcome another round against Fede Delbonis or a player from the previous one; while the Italian, who is exempt from the first round, will debut in the round of 16 against a player from the previous one or the local Thiago Monteiro.
Large Spanish presence in Rio
Carlos Alcaraz and Munar are not the only Spaniards in contention this week at the Río Open 2022. In fact, Spain is the country with the most players in the tournament, with up to seven tennis players. Pablo Carreño, exempt from the first round, will debut against the Italian Fabio Fognini or the Argentine Facundo Bagnis and is also in the upper part of the draw, so he could meet the Murcian in the semis.
Albert Ramos-Viñolas (44) expects a rival from the qualifier; Pablo Andújar (57) will meet Pablo Cuevas in the first round; Pedro Martínez (61) will do the same against Juancheng Shang; and Fernando Verdasco (76) will debut against Serbian Dusan Lajovic.
