Fonseca and Melo Advance to Rio Open Semifinals in Doubles

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – February 18, 2026 – Brazilian duo João Fonseca and Marcelo Melo secured their place in the semifinals of the Rio Open presented by Claro, defeating Argentina’s Máximo González and Andrés Molteni in straight sets. The match, held on the Guga Kuerten court, concluded with a score of 6/4, 6/0.

Dominant Performance by the Brazilian Pair

Fonseca and Melo demonstrated a strong performance, breaking the Argentine’s serve multiple times throughout the match. Their strategy of high lobs and aggressive net play proved effective against the experienced González and Molteni, who were seeded number 2 in the tournament.

The first set was closely contested until 5/4, with both teams holding their serve. Though, Fonseca and Melo capitalized on a break point in the 10th game to close out the set 6/4. The second set saw a significant shift in momentum, with the Brazilian pair dominating and securing a 6/0 victory.

Melo’s Pursuit of Back-to-Back Titles

Marcelo Melo is aiming to win his second consecutive Rio Open doubles title. He won the tournament last year alongside Rafael Matos, and is now looking to repeat the success with his new partner, João Fonseca.

Looking Ahead to the Semifinals

The semifinal match for Fonseca and Melo is scheduled for Friday, February 20th. Their opponents have yet to be determined, as the other quarterfinal matches are still underway, featuring the pairings of Nicolas Barrientos/Thiago Tirante vs. Mark Wallner/Jakob Schnaitter, and Gustavo Heide/Guto Miguel vs. Evan King/John Peers.

Match Details

Score: João Fonseca / Marcelo Melo 2 x 0 Máximo González / Andrés Molteni
Set Scores: 6/4, 6/0

Source: globo.com, uol.com.br