Third seed Pablo Cuevas has been knocked out of the first round at the Rio Open by qualifier Arthur De Greef after losing his match 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
Cuevas, who won the Rio title last year, got off to a sluggish start against the world No.138 as he struggled to gain consistency in his game. Dropping the first set, the third seed managed to clinch the second with the help of a sole break in his favor as both players experienced a nervous decider. Serving to stay in the match at 5-6, Cuevas was on course to force a tiebreak with a 40-15 lead before two consecutive unforced errors allowed Greef to level at deuce. The pressure of trying to defend the title proved too much as a Cuevas forehand went long to send his opponent into the second round.
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Throughout the encounter, Cuevas produced a costly 53 unforced errors, two-times more than his rivals tally of 24. Furthermore, he only managed to get 46% of his service points in.
“It is the biggest win of my career. Playing the qualifying was good because it helped me adapt to the conditions here, and left me more prepared. I think he (Cuevas) was nervous about defending his title, and was also under pressure after losing at the premiere in Buenos Aires (last week).” De Greef said following his win.
24-year-old De Greef has now won only his third main draw match in an ATP Tournament, second of the year after Doha (defeated Egypt’s Mohamed Safwat in the first round). In the last sixteen he will face Argentina’s Nicolas Kicker. World No.123 Kicker defeated Italy’s Marco Cecchinato 7-5, 6-0.
After seed to fall in Rio was Joao Sousa. The eighth seed was thrashed 6-3, 6-1, by Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena, who is ranked almost 100 places lower than him. The most telling factor of the match was Sousa’s unforced error count of 44, more than fours time that of Carballes Baena. Last week Sousa reached the quarterfinals of the Argentina Open before falling to Kei Nishikori.
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Carballes Baena will next play 18-year-old Casper Ruud. The Norwegian won his first match on the ATP Tour after producing a clinical 6-3, 6-4, win against the experienced Rogério Dutra Silva, who is 14 years older than him.
“It was great to win this victory, which will bring even more confidence for my next matches,” Said Ruud.
Day two of the tournament will see the top two seeds, Kei Nishikori and Dominic Thiem, begin their campaign. Nishikori faces home player Thomaz Bellucci and Thiem will play Janko Tipsarevic.
