Brazilian tennis player Thiago Monteiro is set to face his fellow countryman João Fonseca in the singles draw of the Rio Open. Monteiro advanced from the qualifying rounds after defeating Paraguayan Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, and Serbian Dusan Lajovic in a tight match that ended 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
At 31 years old, Monteiro currently holds the 209th position in the ATP rankings. Their match is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, starting after 7 PM (Brasília time), with coverage provided by Sportv.
Thiago Monteiro’s journey into tennis began at a young age. He was born in Fortaleza and originally dreamed of becoming a soccer player. However, he shifted his focus to tennis at the age of eight under the influence of his older brother, Faber. At age 14, Monteiro relocated to Southern Brazil to train at the academy of Larri Passos, known for coaching Gustavo Kuerten. Although he faced challenges and momentarily considered stepping away from the sport, the encouragement from Passos helped him continue his tennis career.
Throughout his junior career, Monteiro achieved significant victories in both national and international tournaments, which built his confidence and prepared him for the professional circuit. He made his ATP debut in 2016 and gained attention by defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Rio Open. Notably, he has claimed victories against top-10 players such as Stefanos Tsitsipas, whom he defeated in the Madrid ATP in 2024.
In May 2024, he reached the round of 16 at a Masters 1000 event in Rome, a notable accomplishment for Brazilian men’s tennis that had not been achieved in eight years. Monteiro’s remarkable career also includes titles in Aix-en-Provence, Braga, Campinas, and Genoa. He has represented Brazil in international competitions like the Davis Cup and the Olympics and secured a bronze medal at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
As Monteiro prepares for his match against Fonseca, hopes are high for another exciting chapter in his promising career.