Verdasco, three times champion of the Davis Cup and the ATP Finals in pairs, is, at 36 years old, one of the five most experienced tennis players in the top 100 of the international classification and has 23 titles in his career, both in individual as in pairs.
In addition to having reached the final of the 2018 Rio Open edition, in which he was defeated by Argentine Diego Schwartzman, the former world number 7 (2009) was champion that same year in this Brazilian city in the match in pairs. next to his compatriot David Marrero.
The Madrilenian will start the twentieth season of his professional career in Rio – he made his debut in ATP tournaments in 2001 – a period that allows him to be among the tennis players with the most victories won on the circuit (546) in the world.
«I have great memories of the Rio Open. I had a very special week in 2018, with many victories and affection received from the Brazilian public. Brazil is a country with which I identify a lot and I can’t wait to go back to, who knows, have another magical week, ”said Verdasco, quoted in a statement from the organization.
“We are pleased to bring Fernando back. Last year he opted for a different calendar due to the birth of his son Miguel in March. In 2018, he played an 11-game marathon in 9 days between singles and couples and was just one game away from winning the two titles. We hope it shows the same in 2020, “said the sports director of the Rio Open, Luiz Carvalho.
For the next edition of the considered main tennis tournament in South America, which will be played between February 15 and 23 on the clay courts of the Brazilian Jockey Club, two of the ten best tennis players in the world have already been confirmed: the Austrian Dominic Thiem and the Italian Matteo Berrettini, respectively fourth and eighth in the ATP ranking.
Also announced are the Argentine Diego Schwartzman (14 ATP) and the young Croatian promise Borna Coric (28).
Another Spaniard confirmed for the tournament is Carlos Alcaraz, one of the greatest promises of his country and the best-placed tennis player under the age of 17 in the world ranking.
Alcaraz, 16, was the beneficiary of the organization’s second direct invitation (“wild card”) to contest the main key of the Rio Open.
The Murcian tennis player, the youngest among the top 500 in the ATP ranking (currently 491 in the rankings), is trained by his compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero, former world number one. EFE