The ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro is set to deliver some thrilling clay-court action on Thursday night as the round of 16 kicks off. Fans can look forward to intense matchups featuring the likes of Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Joao Fonseca, and Matteo Berrettini.
In the first matchup, Tomas Martin Etcheverry faces qualifier Vilius Gaubas. Etcheverry, the eighth seed this week, has been in solid form, winning four of his last five matches. He showcased his resilience by battling back to defeat Comesana in three sets after losing the first set. Meanwhile, Gaubas comes into this encounter having won five consecutive matches, including a strong performance in the qualifying rounds where he also won in straight sets. Bookmakers have placed Etcheverry as the slight favorite, and analysts suggest he may indeed prevail, recommending that bettors consider Etcheverry covering a -4.5 games handicap.
Joao Fonseca, playing in front of his home crowd, will take on Ignacio Buse later in the evening. Fonseca has struggled recently, with only one win in his last five matches, though he managed to defeat Monteiro in the opening round here in Rio. Buse enters the match with a solid form, having secured three victories in his last five matches. Despite Fonseca’s recent challenges, he is a favorite in this matchup, and it is anticipated that he will rise to the occasion. The suggestion for bettors is that Fonseca could cover a -4.5 games handicap to provide additional value.
The night’s final match features Matteo Berrettini against seasoned clay specialist Dusan Lajovic. Berrettini has won three of his last five matches and comes off a straightforward victory over Barrios Vera in his opening round. However, past performance in Rio shows he was narrowly defeated by Alcaraz in the quarterfinals last year. Lajovic, although entering as a lucky loser, has demonstrated his prowess on clay, recently overcoming Altmaier in straight sets. Given Berrettini’s previous struggle and Lajovic’s experience, bettors might find value in wagering on Lajovic to cover a +3.5 games handicap, suggesting this could be a closely contested match.
With the excitement building as the tournament progresses, each match promises to offer high-stakes action and a showcase of talent on the clay courts of Rio de Janeiro.