Match Report
Etcheverry endures marathon day, clinches first ATP title in Rio de Janeiro
20 months after holding championship point in Lyon, Argentine scores career milestone in Brazil
February 23, 2026
Mauro Pimentel/AFP via Getty Images
Tomas Martin Etcheverry overcomes Alejandro Tabilo 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 after three hours, four minutes.
By ATP Staff
Tomas Martin Etcheverry will not soon forget his dramatic run to capture his maiden ATP Tour title at the Rio Open presented by Claro.
After Saturday rain postponed his semi-final match, the Argentine persevered through two matches Sunday and eventually earned the ATP 500 title after a 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 championship-match victory against Alejandro Tabilo.
Resilience personified 🇦🇷
Semi-finals and final on the same day 🔜 @tometcheverry claims his first EVER title@RioOpenOficial | #RioOpen | @AATenis pic.twitter.com/0N5i8BCuir
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 23, 2026
Trailing Tabilo 3-6, 1-3, Etcheverry appeared physically spent, likely from completing his three-set semi-final against Vit Kopriva earlier in the day. But the 26-year-old, who in May 2024 was one point away from his first tour-level title in Lyon (l. Mpetshi Perricard), dug into his deepest reserves to earn a career milestone.
“This is a dream come true for me,” said Etcheverry, who had previously lost three ATP Tour finals. “I was looking for a while for my first title. I’ve been working so hard with my team and I can’t believe it.”
Etcheverry produced ferocious firepower, highlighted by a blistering forehand pass at 3/2 in the second-set tie-break. Tabilo engaged in gruelling rallies in the latter stages of the match, testing the Argentine’s physicality, but Etcheverry avoided any late drama and secured the title after three hours and four minutes.
“I just tried to give my 100 per cent,” Etcheverry said. “It was the final, the last match of the tournament, so I gave my 100 per cent and I think at the end, I have the prize.”
Etcheverry, who earned his 100th tour-level match win Friday, defeated Tabilo last week in the Buenos Aires quarter-finals and repeated that feat to extend his Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead to 2-0. Tabilo was aiming for his fourth tour-level crown and first at ATP 500 level.
Up 18 places to No. 33 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Etcheverry will return to the Top 40 for the first time since last February.
