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Rio Open 2026 Day 3: Cerundolo Retires, Tabilo and Local Stars Shine

Posted : 19 February 2026

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — The third day of the ATP 500-level Rio Open 2026 delivered drama and excitement as the tournament moved into the second round. The clay courts of the Jockey Club Brasileiro witnessed key matchups that are now shaping the path to the quarter-finals, with several standout performances keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

Top seed Francisco Cerundolo, coming off a recent Argentina Open triumph, was forced to retire from his match against fellow Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante due to a back injury. Trailing 6‑2, 3‑1, Cerundolo could not continue, handing Tirante a spot in the quarter-finals. The top half of the draw has now opened up, giving rising stars a chance to make deeper runs.

Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo continued his strong form on South American clay, defeating Italy’s Francesco Passaro in a competitive second-round clash to secure a quarter-final berth. Meanwhile, Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Francisco’s younger brother, battled past Yannick Hanfmann in a hard-fought victory, keeping his Rio campaign alive. Rising talent Roman Andres Burruchaga also made headlines, having stunned Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the opening round and preparing for another challenging contest on Day 3.

Brazilian fans had plenty to cheer for as local hopeful Joao Fonseca recorded his first win of the season earlier in the tournament. Paired in doubles with veteran Marcelo Melo, Fonseca continued to draw strong support from the home crowd, highlighting the tournament’s appeal to local spectators.

As the Rio Open progresses, several quarter-final spots have been confirmed, with the injury to the top seed creating new opportunities for consistent performers like Tabilo and emerging talents such as Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Burruchaga. The tournament promises more thrilling action as players vie for valuable ATP points on the South American clay swing.

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