Francisco Comesana Shocks Alexander Zverev to Reach Rio Open Semifinals
Argentinian rising star Francisco Comesana delivered the biggest win of his career, stunning world No. 2 Alexander Zverev with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in the Rio Open quarterfinals on Friday. The 24-year-old, ranked 86th in the world, secured his first-ever win over a top-five opponent, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Comesana’s Grit and Determination Shine in Rio
Francisco Comesana, who made headlines last year by eliminating sixth seed Andrey Rublev in his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon, showcased his resilience against Zverev. The German top seed seemed in control early, firing three aces to claim the opening set. However, Comesana refused to back down, breaking Zverev’s serve twice in the second set to force a decider.
Zverev appeared to be on course for victory in the third set, surging to a 4-1 lead. But Comesana launched a stunning comeback, winning 22 of the next 27 points to turn the match around. A crucial moment came at 4-4 when Zverev, positioned at the net for what seemed like a routine smash, was met with a reflex return from Comesana, who followed up with a remarkable backhand winner. A double fault from Zverev then handed the Argentine a decisive break, and he confidently served out the match.
After the victory, Francisco Comesana reflected on the emotions of the moment. “Throughout the match, I kept telling myself, ‘How great it is to be alive,’” he said. “I’m just grateful for this opportunity and all the hard work that brought me here.”
Zverev Falls Short Once Again in South America
For Zverev, the defeat marked another disappointment in his South American campaign, following a quarterfinal loss at the Argentina Open. The three-time Grand Slam finalist admitted frustration with his performance.
“I think I played better here than in Buenos Aires, but it’s frustrating to lose a match when I was in a winning position,” Zverev said. “It wasn’t the level I wanted to display, but I still enjoyed my time in Rio.”
A Historic Run for Francisco Comesana and What’s Next
Comesana’s win makes him the lowest-ranked player to defeat a top-three opponent since Luca Nardi’s victory over Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells in 2023. With this success, Comesana climbs 19 spots to No. 67 in the live ATP rankings.
He now prepares for a semifinal showdown against Frenchman Alexandre Muller, who pulled off an upset of his own by defeating fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-1. Muller, now set to make his Top 50 debut, has proven his prowess in ATP Tour semifinals, winning titles in both Marrakech and Hong Kong.
With Comesana, Sebastian Baez, and Camilo Ugo Carabelli all advancing, Argentina has equaled the record for most players from the same country reaching the Rio Open semifinals, a feat last achieved in 2014 by Spanish stars Rafael Nadal, Pablo Andujar, and David Ferrer.
Meanwhile, defending champion Baez secured his spot in the final four after a straight-sets win over Chun-sin Tseng. He will now face Carabelli in an all-Argentine semifinal, hoping to extend his eight-match winning streak.
