Rafael Matos and Marcelo Melo won, at dawn on Sunday (23), the first 100% Brazilian Open River.
The duo defeated 2 sets to 0 Spanish Pedro Martínez and Jaume Munar, with 6/2 and 7/5 partials in a match started on Saturday night (22). Accompanied by a euphoric audience that had the young João Fonseca as a fan, the Brazilians played a game of great confidence and tranquility – which contributed to earning the 11th edition of the tournament.
With the victory, Rafa Matos, 29, wins his second Open River, while Marcelo conquers the ATP 500 for the first time in Brazilian soil at the age of 41. Matos today ranks 36th in the world in the pairs game, inspired by his partner, who was the best in the world in 2015 – Brazilian first to reach this feat.
After the match, Matos thanked his court colleague for his partnership. “I had to ask three times to play with him, it wasn’t he who chose me. The feeling of playing here, with all this crowd, is indescribable,” he told reporters.
The young man was champion of the previous edition of the tournament, but in an international double with the Colombian Nicolás Barrigos. The veteran, in turn, becomes the active dual with the largest number of titles in the world circuit –39, same number of Croatian Mate Pavic.
Melo disputed his third Open River final. In 2014 he was defeated in the final alongside Spaniard David Marrero and, in 2023, lost the decision alongside Colombian Sebastian Cabal.
The game
The pairs exchanged withdrawals in the first two games, and the two teams started the game with chances.
Melo and Matos broke back in the sixth game after a mistake by Martínez, who sent a cross -right out. The Brazilians opened 5/2 and, in new break, closed the set with 6/2.
The second partial began with the Brazilian duo saving three break points in the mining withdrawal. In the sixth game, three more break points saved in the mining withdrawal. Munar, then, went to the 4/5 withdrawal on the scoreboard, and the Brazilian team was two points of the title when Munar himself missed a cross right.
Melo killed a point with a volley, forced the decisive point and gave a match point to the home team. Melo then missed a volley glued to the net, which gave the game to the Europeans: 5/5.
However, a mistake by Martínez and a beautiful volley of Matos saved the Brazilian team once again. Following, another chance for the duo of the house, when the miner won a dispute on the network and left the scoring on 0/30
Matos made a great return, forced a mistake by Martinez and yielded four match points. Munar saved the first one with a winning volley, but Melo redeemed himself and closed the match with an indefensible volley.
