Ignacio Buse Upsets João Fonseca at Rio Open, Reaching Quarterfinals

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – February 20, 2026 – Ignacio Buse of Peru delivered a stunning upset at the Rio Open presented by Claro on Thursday, defeating Brazilian João Fonseca 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in the second round. The match, delayed by an hour due to rain, lasted two hours and 26 minutes.

Buse Capitalizes on Fonseca’s Errors

Despite dropping the first set, Buse rallied, capitalizing on Fonseca’s 43 unforced errors to secure the victory. The win marks a career milestone for Buse, making him the first Peruvian to reach an ATP 500 quarterfinal since the series began in 2009. ATP Tour

A Difficult Match for Both Players

“Today was a really difficult match,” Buse said after the match. “We all know the potential that Joao has. We are really close friends. So that was also hard today.” ATP Tour

Buse’s Remarkable Rise in Rankings

Just one year ago, Buse was ranked No. 230 in the PIF ATP Rankings. He has since climbed to a career-high No. 91. ATP Tour

Composure Under Pressure

Buse demonstrated composure under pressure, saving eight of the nine break points he faced, including crucial saves in the second and third sets. According to Infosys ATP Stats, he saved three break points at 4-3 in the third set. ATP Tour

Next Opponent: Matteo Berrettini

Buse will next face Matteo Berrettini in the quarterfinals. Berrettini advanced after defeating Dusan Lajovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a two-hour and nine-minute match. ATP Tour

Head-to-Head Record

This was the first professional meeting between Fonseca and Buse. Rio Open Fonseca, currently ranked No. 38, had previously only faced Buse in youth tournaments. Rio Open

Watch highlights of the match on YouTube.