Joao Fonseca hit by rain delay as Rio Open schedule shifts; now top remaining seed
Joao Fonseca, fresh from a straight-sets victory that moved him into the round of 16, saw his scheduled night match delayed by weather and earlier interruptions at the tournament. The Brazilian also heads into the rest of the week carrying heightened expectations after a top seed dropped out of the draw.
Joao Fonseca: revised start window and match status
Fonseca's match against Ignacio Buse had been set for 5: 00 p. m. ET but did not begin at that time because earlier court action was halted by rain, producing a knock-on effect for the evening schedule. Tournament organizers confirmed that no matches would start before 5: 45 p. m. ET and later indicated the Fonseca encounter was expected to begin between 6: 45 and 7: 00 p. m. ET once play could resume. The interruption followed multiple stoppages during the daytime session that forced officials to adjust the order of play.
Despite the delay, the matchup remains slated to be contested on the tournament's main stadium court and will proceed once prior matches are completed and the playing surface is cleared for competition. Organizers have not announced a cancellation or full postponement of the tie; rather, the contest is awaiting a finalized start time within the revised evening window.
Seed shake-up, doubles duty and increased spotlight
Fonseca entered the night with momentum after a 2-0 victory over Thiago Monteiro that kept him unbeaten at the event so far and set up the meeting with Ignacio Buse. With the withdrawal of a higher-ranked seed from the singles draw, Fonseca has become the highest-ranked active seed remaining in the field, a development that raises both expectation and scrutiny for his run at the tournament's later rounds.
Complicating his week is continued involvement in doubles: Fonseca is also through to the doubles semifinals alongside Marcelo Melo, which could require additional court time later in the week and create potential physical demands if schedules remain congested. Observers have noted the combination of sudden favoritism in singles and a busy doubles schedule as factors that could shape how he approaches the remainder of the tournament.
What to watch next
The immediate focus is whether the weather holds and allows the match to start within the current evening window. If play resumes cleanly, Fonseca will attempt to convert his winning form into a place in the quarterfinals; a victory would equal his best singles showing at this event. If further interruptions arrive, organizers may need additional adjustments that could push matches later into the night. Meanwhile, Fonseca must manage expectations tied to his new status as the leading seed in the remaining draw while balancing the physical realities of competing in both singles and doubles deep into the tournament.
