Rio Open 2024: Draw preview and prediction featuring Carlos Alcaraz, Stan Wawrinka, Cameron Norrie and others

The ATP 500 tournament kicks off on Monday.

Rio Open 2024: Draw preview and prediction featuring Carlos Alcaraz, Stan Wawrinka, Cameron Norrie and others

Cameron Norrie, Carlos Alcaraz, Stan Wawrinka (Images via Imago)

The clay court season has started with the Rio Open set to kick off on Monday, 19 February. Being an ATP 500 tournament, the tournament will see stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Stan Wawrinka, and Cameron Norrie featuring. Norrie is the defending champion and will have his eyes set on defending his crown.

Tournament Details

Tournament: Rio Open 2024
Date: February 19-25, 2024
Number of Entrants: 32 (Singles)
Venue: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: $2,100,230
Defending champion: Cameron Norrie

Top Seeds at the Rio Open 2024

  1. Carlos Alcaraz
  2. Cameron Norrie
  3. Nicolas Jarry
  4. Francisco Cerundolo
  5. Sebastian Baez
  6. Laslo Djere
  7. Arthur Fils
  8. Sebastian Ofner

Rio Open 2024 Draw Preview

First Quarter

2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz is the top seed at the tournament and has been drawn in the first quarter. The Spanish ace is coming fresh off a semifinal qualification at the ATP 250 tournament in Argentina. Alcaraz will open his campaign against Thiago Monteiro.

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Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (image via IMAGO)

Alcaraz has faced the Brazilian once where he lost the match. However, since it was in 2021, Alcaraz is expected to win it this time around.

Stan Wawrinka and fifth seed Sebastian Baez are also drawn in the same quarter. While Wawrinka opens his campaign against Facundo Diaz Acosta, Baez will face a qualifier. The two players are expected to play each other in the second round. Baez might end up meeting Alcaraz in the quarterfinal considering the Argentine’s run of form.

Quarterfinals prediction: Carlos Alcaraz vs Sebastian Baez

Second Quarter

The second quarter features two seeded players- Laslo Djere and Francisco Cerundolo. While Djere is slated to meet Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the opening round, Cerundolo will open his campaign against a qualifier.

Francisco-Cereundolo
Francisco Cereundolo (Image via Imago)

The Argentine might meet Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the second round. On the other hand, Djere is expected to play Dusan Lajovic or Daniel Elahi Galan. There can be a tough fight in this quarter for the quarterfinal spot. However, Cerundolo and Djere might sail through to set up a clash against each other.

Quarterfinals prediction: Francisco Cerundolo vs Laslo Djere

Third Quarter

The third quarter is also packed with Arthur Fils and Nicolas Jarry being the two-seeded players. Jarry who might be high on confidence after beating Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal in Argentina will face Yannick Hanfmann in the first round. Jarry is expected to take down the German. Meanwhile, Fils opens his campaign against Joao Fonseca.

Arthur-Fils-Rio
Arthur Fils (Image via Imago)

The Frenchman has played decently so far in the 2024 season and thus is expected to advance to the quarterfinal with Jarry waiting for him there.

Quarterfinals prediction: Nicolas Jarry vs. Arthur Fils

Fourth Quarter

Defending champion Cameron Norrie headlines the fourth quarter with Sebastian Ofner, the eighth seed being the second-seeded player in fourth quarter.

Cameron Norrie
Cameron Norrie(Image via: The Times)

Norrie will begin his title defense against Hugo Dellien. The Briton ace is expected to sail through and meet one of Gustavo Heide and Tomas Barrios Vera’s in the second round. Norrie will end up in the quarterfinal unless there is an upset.

It will be a tight affair for the second spot though. Ofner opens his campaign against Jaume Munar and if he manages to beat the Spanish player, he might meet Alejandro Tabilo or Thiago Seyboth Wild in the second round. However, a quarterfinal qualification will be tough for Ofner.

Quarterfinals prediction: Cameron Norrie vs Sebastian Ofner.

Semifinals

The two semifinals will be tough considering the players expected to make the quarterfinals. While Carlos Alcaraz is the favorite to make the semifinal, he might meet Laslo Djere there.

Nicolas-Jarry_
Nicolas Jarry (Image via Imago)

In the second semifinal, Cameron Norrie and Nicolas Jarry are expected to make the cut.

Final

While Carlos Alcaraz remains the favorite against Laslo Djere, there will be a tough fight between Cameron Norrie and Nicolas Jarry. The Chilean leads Norrie 1-0 but the Briton won the tournament last year.

Carlos-Alcaraz_
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via Imago)

It is to be seen if it will be Norrie or Jarry in the final but Carlos Alcaraz is expected to lift the title considering how he played in Argentina.

Champion Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz

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