Joao Fonseca has improved a lot in the Rio Open compared to last year, when he came out on top in Buenos Aires and lost from the start to Alexandre Muller. Well rested this time following a quick exit from the Buenos Aires ATP 250, Fonseca took care of Thiago Monteiro 7-6 (1), 6-1 on Tuesday.
Next up for the 19-year-old on Thursday is a second-round match against Buse, who he has never faced.
Buse is a 21-year-old who entered the top 100 (currently at 91). He was a semi-finalist at the Challenger level last season, but success on the grand tour has been elusive. Five of Buse’s 10 career victories have come in low-ranking Davis Cup tournaments. Aside from a run to the semifinals this past summer in Gstaad (where he didn’t beat anyone ranked higher than 60), the Peruvian has never been seen at the ATP level.
This is a big step forward for Buse, who needed two hours and 40 minutes to get past world No. 348 Igor Marcondes 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the first round of Rio de Janeiro. Now the underdog has to face a classy opponent and a rabid Brazilian crowd who will want to boo Fonseca after he had to face his fellow Brazilian on Tuesday.
Pick: Fonseca at 2
