Brazilian Thiago Monteiro reached the second round at a tour-level event for the first time this season on Monday when he clawed past former Rio Open presented by Claro champion Dominic Thiem 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(2) at the ATP 500 event.
In a hard-fought clash, the home favourite raced out of the blocks, winning the first five games before sealing the set on serve to move ahead. After former World No. 3 Thiem levelled, Monteiro held his nerve in the third set, saving all four break points he faced to advance after two hours and 46 minutes in their first ATP Head2Head meeting.
“It was a tough beginning of the year, but I feel at the same time I have been playing at a high level,” Monteiro said. “Trying to push harder and harder. I have had some tough loses, some close matches. Now winning my first match at such a big tournament is very important.
“In the tie-break I thought I played very solid and I am very happy to get my first win.”
The 28-year-old, currently No. 80 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, is making his seventh appearance at the clay-court tournament in Brazil, with his best result being a quarter-final run in 2017. Monteiro will look to reach that stage again when he faces second seed Cameron Norrie or Argentine lucky loser Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round.
In other action, Nicolas Jarry earned the biggest win of his season when he upset World No. 18 Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1.
The Chilean qualifier, who advanced to the semi-finals in Rio de Janeiro in 2018, was strong on return throughout the 74-minute clash, winning 65 per cent (15/23) of points on third seed Musetti’s second delivery.
Jarry will next meet Pedro Martinez. The Spaniard snapped a four-match losing streak when he overcame Chilean Cristian Garin 7-6(0), 6-4 in two hours and 27 minutes.
Slovakian Alex Molcan moved past Brazilian wild card Joao Fonseca 6-0, 6-3 and will next face Hugo Dellien after the Bolivian defeated Joao Sousa 6-0, 6-2. Dellien came through qualifying to reach the semi-finals in Cordoba earlier this month.