Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, ranked World No. 2, defeated Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Rio Open quarterfinals this Thursday. The event, known as the only ATP 500 tournament in South America, previously saw Alcaraz lift the title here last year. The 19-year-old from Murcia had a rocky start, committing several basic errors in the first set, but found his best form from the second frame and displayed what many observers regard as peak-level performance. The match extended to nearly three hours, reflecting a true test for both players as Alcaraz navigated a lingering ankle issue that had flared up during the San Remo event and troubled him during the second set.
This marked only the second meeting between the pair. The first clash, also in Rio de Janeiro last year, saw Alcaraz win the Brazilian semifinal 6-2, 7-5. With the US Open title already under his belt, Alcaraz reaffirmed his dominance over the 35-year-old Fognini, who had previously been a finalist at the 2015 Rio Open after a semifinal win over Rafael Nadal. In the quarterfinals, the Spaniard was slated to meet the winner of an intriguing clash between Serbian Laslo Djere and Dusan Lajovic, a contest that pitted the 57th and 80th-ranked players respectively and would determine who advances to face Alcaraz. Lajovic had earlier defeated Argentine Diego Schwartzman, the 2018 Brazilian champion, in a first-round upset.
Alcaraz broke Fognini’s opening serve in the first set and jumped to a 3-1 advantage, only for Fognini to rally and trim the deficit to 3-2. The Murcia native steadied his game to reach 5-2 by securing a service hold and breaking once more, but Fognini answered with a three-game run to seize a 6-5 edge. The Italian celebrated a set victory as Alcaraz faced a critical moment at 6-6 in the tiebreak. A fierce baseline exchange saw Alcaraz gain a 4-2 lead in the tiebreak, yet Fognini fought back to win the tiebreak 7-5 and claim the first set. The drama and momentum shift underscored the match’s high stakes and the evolving pressure on both players.
Reinvigorated after the break, Alcaraz surged in the second set, breaking Fognini’s first two service games and consolidating to take a commanding 4-0 lead. The Italian, meanwhile, picked up a minor ankle strain while scrambling near the net but did not request medical attention. Even with the discomfort, Alcaraz did not let up, closing out the set 6-2 as he pressed to extend his advantage and keep the rhythm intact for the deciding frame.
In the deciding third set, Alcaraz rode the momentum he had built, breaking Fognini’s opening service game and racing to a 3-1 lead. He maintained pressure through the remainder of the set, eventually finishing 6-4. The result reinforced Alcaraz’s status as one of the tour’s most compelling young talents and a key figure for fans across North America who follow the Rio Open with great interest. The Spaniard’s performance in Rio continues to contribute to a growing narrative about his ability to translate early-season form into competitive depth on clay and hard courts alike.
Other players securing quarterfinal spots in Rio included Brazil’s own rising stars and seasoned competitors from around the globe. Among them were Cameron Norrie of England, the Spaniards Albert Ramos and Bernabé Zapata, Argentina’s Sebastián Báez, Chile’s Nicolás Jarry, and Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien, each advancing to keep the field dynamic and unpredictable as the tournament progresses. Their journeys illustrate the breadth of talent converging in Rio, where strategy, resilience, and a touch of home-court advantage mingle to shape a compelling chapter in this year’s ATP calendar.