The scenario experienced by Carlos Alcaraz marked the last edition of the Rio Open. At 18, the Spaniard won his first ATP 500, entered the top 20 and seven months later was number 1 in the world. It is the ultimate example of a tournament that holds promise for young tennis players and can leverage the careers of those who succeed on clay in Rio de Janeiro. In this edition, one of the names that can follow a similar path is the Italian Lorenzo Musetti.

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At 20, the Italian, who was world number 1 among young people, is already establishing himself as a probable rival of the Spaniard. He even won his first ATP 500 in Hamburg last year, beating Alcaraz in the final.

— Everyone has their own way, I have to focus on myself. I am clear that Carlos will continue to do amazing things like last year and win more Grand Slam titles just like Djokovic. I have to work hard to have possibilities to approach his level – said, in a recent interview, Musetti, who did psychological work for anxiety on the pitch. — It’s not easy to be alone in the field and to face all the problems. Sometimes the pressure got the better of me.

The organization expects a lot from Brazilian João Fonseca, just 16 years old. Like Alcaraz, he will make his debut in an ATP 500 thanks to the Wild Card (guest). Remarkable in junior tournaments, the carioca is one of the promises of the new generation of national tennis.

—João Fonseca is definitely a name to watch. He is very, very young, he has never played at the ATP. It’s hard to know how he will react in these conditions, but we know he has what it takes to face the best. Much depends on the draw of the key. Normally, a more accessible first round is good to acclimatize and get comfortable so that you can then beat the best”, explains Lui Carvalho, Sporting Director of the Rio Open.

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In almost 10 years of events, the public has seen other tennis players take off in their careers after titles or good results on clay at the Rio Open. In 2019, for example, 18-year-old Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime was invited to the tournament, reached the final and rose from 104th to 60th place. By the end of the year, he was already 21st. Today is the eighth.

Now fourth in the standings, Casper Ruud also had a dream week at the 2017 Rio Open. At 18, the Norwegian reached the semi-finals, his best result to date, and reached the top 150.

The good carioca air to young tennis players has several reasons, according to Lui Carvalho. From fans to tournament profile, the Rio Open has become a competition that welcomes talented players with little experience.

The ground, for example, is favorable to those who are still developing their best game.

— Clay is a ground that levels the game. On hard courts, the tennis player must already have a stronger service, it’s a more aggressive game. On clay, it is possible to pace the game more and young athletes can position themselves better because it is a bit slower – he says.

In addition, the support of the public, which normally chooses the underdogs, gives an additional boost:

— The public loves the outsider (dark horse). I remember Aliassime against Fognini, in the first round, on court 1, and the whole crowd for him. The Rio Open also has a more consistent main draw. In other fast tournaments, he already catches the main ones right away. This increases the chances of progression.