First Brazilian to be champion of the Rio tournament last year, Rafael now becomes the first two -time champion followed by ATP 500
The experience of and the energy to work again in this. The Brazilians were champions of the double key on Saturday night (22), when they beaten the Spanish Pedro Martínez and Jaume Munar for 2 sets to 0, with partials from 6/2 and 7/5. First Brazilian to be champion of the Rio tournament last year, Matos now becomes the first two -time champion followed by ATP 500.
In the 2024 edition, the 29 -year -old tennis player raised the trophy with the Colombian Nicolás Barrientos. This year, the title was 100% national, with Melo. This is the biggest achievement of the duo, who played together since the end of 2023. Last year, they won the first tournament together, in the grass of Stuttgart, ATP 250 competition.
For Melo, 41, the victory marks a redemption in the clay of the Open River. The veteran tried for the third time to reach the title, after being deputy in 2023 and 2014, with other partners. The veteran reached his 39th trophy on the circuit, becoming the active tennis player with more titles in the pairs, drawing with Croatian Mate Pavic – in total, the Brazilian adds 77 finals.
The result leaves the pair in sixth position in the ATP ranking, to be officially updated on Monday, the 24th. Melo and Matos came from the runner-up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last weekend.
With massive support of the fans, which had João Fonseca in the stands, Melo and Matos raised the audience with each point. The party was bigger in the sixth game when they got the first break of the game and opened 4/2. Without difficulty, they supported the advantage and closed the set.
The second partial was more paste, from the first points. The Brazilians had to overcome three break points in the seventh game, at the most tense time of partial. In the 10th game, the national duo had a unsuccessful match point. After the suffocation, Melo and Matos imposed themselves in the 12th game, with a breakdown, and sacrament the title.
Posted by Luisa Cardoso
*With information from Estadão Content
