Gustavo Heide emerged victorious against fellow Brazilian Thiago Wild, marking his advancement to the round of 16 at the ATP 250 tournament held in Santiago, Chile.
On February 24, 2023, Heide, currently ranked 160th in the world, faced off against Wild, who holds the 86th spot. The match lasted for 1 hour and 44 minutes, culminating in straight sets with scores of 7-5 and 6-2.
The first set was intensely competitive, with both players trading points and breaking serve at pivotal moments. Heide took the lead but was closely challenged by Wild. The set saw Heide achieve two consecutive games with service breaks, allowing him to clinch it at 7-5 after 1 hour and 3 minutes.
The second set started similarly, with the players tied at 2-2. Nevertheless, Heide soon found his rhythm and rode it to victory, sweeping four consecutive games to finish the second set 6-2. His ability to adapt to the quick court conditions at Santiago proved beneficial as he secured the win.
Heide's progression means he will meet the winner of the match between Portugal's Jaime Faria and Italy's Luciano Darderi, scheduled for February 25. Notably, Heide has previously faced Faria, suffering defeats to him during two matches at the Challenger level last year. A potential match with Darderi, currently ranked 59th, would be their first encounter.
Wild, on the other hand, has experienced consecutive first-round exits, having suffered similar setbacks at the Rio Open the week prior. Despite being the 2020 champion at Santiago, Wild has only claimed two wins during the entire season.
Heide showcased impressive statistics during the match, including serving seven aces and not conceding any breaks, facing just three break points throughout the encounter. The lone break of serve he secured came during the 12th game of the first set, offering him the edge needed to secure the win.
Alongside the singles action, Brazilian participation extended to doubles, where Orlando Luz triumphed alongside French player Gregoire Jacq against the duo of Jaime Faria and Kazakhstan's Alexander Shevchenko, winning the tightly contested match with scores of 6-3, 3-6, and 10-3. Conversely, Fernando Romboli, partnered with Chile's Matías Soto, fell short against Portuguese Francisco Cabral and Dutch player Jean-Julien Rojer.
Heide, only 22 years old and having qualified through impressive performances against Argentine players Genaro Olivieri and Thiago Tirante, now stands poised to leap from 160th to 147th place with his Santiago campaign, inching closer to his career high ranking.
The developments at the ATP 250 Santiago highlight not only Heide's rise but also the challenges faced by Wild, encapsulating the intensity and unpredictability of professional tennis.