ATP Rio: Thiem, Berrettini, Alcaraz and "DelPo"? Top field is announced
South American tennis fans can look forward to an excellent field of participants at the 2022 edition of the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro. Above all Dominic Thiem , Matteo Berrettini , Casper Ruud , Carlos Alcaraz - and probably also Juan Martin del Potro - will most likely lead the field in Brazil.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Dec 23, 2021, 08:09 am
The short South American clay court tour at the beginning of each season has to fight with an expandable influx as befits their standing. Immediately after the Australian Open and in the middle of the European indoor season, the short-term change to the clay court is usually only a real option for die-hard ash aficionados.
The best example of 2020 when in Rio de Janeiro - the only ATP 500 event on the South American tour - after Dominic Thiem, Dusan Lajovic was already listed as number two in the event. In the end, clay court specialist Cristian Garin triumphed, in 2021 the tournament in Rio de Janeiro was canceled due to COVID-19.
Thiem, Alcaraz and Berrettini lead the field
In 2022, however, it seems that the field in Rio de Janeiro will experience a completely new quality. With Dominic Thiem, Matteo Berrettini, Casper Ruud, Carlos Alcaraz and also Pablo Carreno Busta, five top 20 players have announced themselves in Brazil. In addition, it seems quite likely at the moment that comebacker Juan Martin del Potro will start at the ATP 500 event.
The ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro is scheduled for February 14-20, 2022. Before that, there will be an ATP 250 tournament in Buenos Aires in South America, where Dominic Thiem and Juan Martin del Potro are also likely starters. As in Rio, the tournament director of the Argentine clay court event also emphasized that he wanted to keep a wild card for the tower of Tandil.