Defending champ Cameron Norrie moves into Rio Open second round
The world No. 23 has started his defense of the Rio Open title, where he upset Carlos Alcaraz in the 2023 final. Both are seeded for a championship rematch at the ATP 500 event.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Cameron Norrie started his defense of the Rio Open title by beating Bolivia's Hugo Dellien 6-3, 6-2 on Monday.
"This is a special place for me, I won my biggest title last year here," Norrie said. "I have another chance to work on my game and maybe enjoy the beach a little."
Norrie upset Carlos Alcaraz in the 2023 final and both are seeded to make the final again.
The second-seeded Norrie will face Chile's Tomás Barrios Vera next.
Also, fourth-seeded player Francisco Cerúndolo of Argentina won.
Alcaraz will play his opener on Tuesday against home crowd hope Thiago Monteiro, and three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka will take on Argentina's Facundo Díaz Acosta, fresh from winning the Argentina Open on Sunday as a wild card.