The ATP Rio Open 2025 has turned heads with its surprising semifinal lineup, which has seen no players from the top 30 advancing, setting the stage for unexpected outcomes and thrilling matches.
After a week filled with astonishing matches, the Rio Open has produced quite the surprise: top seed Alexander Zverev was eliminated, creating remarkable opportunities for the last four players standing. Defending champion Sebastian Baez, Alexandre Muller, Francisco Comesana, and Camilo Ugo Carabelli are ready to vie for victory on Saturday.
Both semifinal matchups feature players whose paths to the final have been anything but conventional. Baez, the world No. 31, is certainly used to the pressure, having performed consistently well throughout his matches this week. He has been building momentum, recently defeating Chun-Hsin Tseng convincingly to reach the penultimate stage of the tournament and defend his title.
On the opposite side of the net, Carabelli has surprised many with his skillful play, reaching his first-ever ATP semifinal. He overcame Jaime Faria with solid performances, showcasing his ability to embrace the intense scrutiny of such high-stakes competitions.
Meanwhile, the second semifinal looks to be equally captivating. Muller, who currently stands at No. 60, has captivated audiences with his performance. He has displayed exceptional form, having faced and overcome tough opponents like eighth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry and fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo, advancing without dropping a single set throughout the tournament. Collectively, these victories have highlighted Muller’s attacking tennis and the outstanding confidence he’s maintained.
Even more shocking is the rise of Comesana, currently ranked No. 86. His remarkable three-set win over Zverev is considered one of the greatest upsets of the year, marking the most significant achievement of his career. This unexpected display of skill and aggression may have boosted Comesana’s confidence, igniting hopes of extending his fairytale run.
With both matchups eliciting excitement, the predictions for the semifinals are hard to pin down. For the match between Muller and Comesana, the two players have never faced each other before. Comesana has averaged just over three hours of play per match and is riding the motivational high from his victories, but fatigue may come to haunt him.
Muller, who recently claimed his first ATP title, is the favorite to take the win. He has shown steady progression, combining strategic power with finesse on the court. An exciting prediction suggests Muller will edge Comesana out, likely requiring three sets to secure his place at the final.
The other semifinal presents Baez, who appears focused on defending his title, taking on Carabelli, who is on the rise this week. Baez’s experience may present him as the stronger competitor, yet Carabelli thrives under pressure and seems to have found his stride, pushing Baez previously just last week. While many analysts believe Baez has the edge, the potential for fatigue and the uncertainty of performance make the outcome difficult to forecast. Their match has all the makings of yet another epic slugfest.
The stakes are high at Rio de Janeiro’s ATP 500 tournament. With all players pushing their limits and the unpredictability of the outcomes, fans are undoubtedly gearing up for some nail-biting action. Each player has successfully showcased their skills and talent, exuberantly defying odds stacked against them. With so many storylines interweaving throughout this tournament, the anticipation for the finals has never been more intense. Can Baez defend his title, or will one of the other contenders claim his throne? The answers lie just around the corner along with the thrilling gameplay of the ATP Rio Open's semifinal matches.