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The Rio Open is just the second ATP 500 level tournament of the new season and the first on clay. David Ferrer is the defending champion and returns this year as the second seed behind Rafael Nadal.
ATP Rio Tournament Overview
The first ATP 500 tournament of the season on clay takes place this week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The tournament is held on the eight clay courts of the Jockey Club Brasileiro, including a 6,200-seater main stadium court. This is just the third year that the Rio Open has been held and both previous winners are in this year's field. Rafael Nadal won the inaugural version of the tournament in 2014 with David Ferrer winning last season over Fabio Fognini.
In the brief history of the Rio Open, seeds have done farely well in avoiding early upsets. Only two seeds have failed to win their first round matches in each of the two years this tournament has been played. As the tournament weaves its way to the business end, seeds normally remain in the mix. In both 2014 and 2015, three seeds made the semifinals. Both years, the champion at the Rio Open has been a seed with Nadal winning as the top seed in 2014 and Ferrer as the second seed last year. With that in mind, here's this week's Seed Report.
Seed Report
1. Rafael Nadal
The top seed is 8-1 in Rio, making the semifinals or better both years. Nadal will be looking to at least match last year's semifinal run. He comes in with okay, but not great form after losing in the semifinals last week in Buenos Aires.
2. David Ferrer
Ferrer is also 8-1 all-time at this event Like Nadal, Ferrer has also made the semifinals or better both years. He had a bit of rough luck in Buenos Aires last week. He was forced to play two matches in the same day due to a rain delay and it seemed to catch him. Ferrer lost to Nicolas Almagro for the first time in the semifinals after having to finish a three set match earlier in the day against Pablo Cuevas.
3. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
The Frenchman continues his unusual participation in the South American swing on clay. Normally, Tsonga is playing in Europe at this point in the season on the indoor hard court swing. This will be Tsonga's first year playing Rio. Tsonga won one and lost one last week in Buenos Aires on his first foray on clay this season.
4. John Isner
Another odd inclusion as Isner also plays his second straight clay court tournament. The American will also be making his Rio debut this season. Isner was upset in his opener last week in Buenos Aires. It was a tight three set match against Dusan Lajovic that ended in a third set tiebreak. Isner showed more consistent on dirt last year, so he's worth watching this week.
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