Top-Seeded Feliciano Lopez Pulls Out of Brazil Open After Injury
Spain's Feliciano Lopez will no longer be competing at the Brazil Open after sustaining an injury on his right thigh.
Lopez was the top-seeded player of the Brazil Open in Sao Paulo, which started on Monday, February 9, according to a report from Fox News Latino. The 33-year-old professional tennis player was injured in the final match of the Ecuador Open tournament held on Sunday.
Fox Sports reported that the player "lost the final 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5) to Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic." Lopez would have made his debut in Sao Paulo on Tuesday if he hadn't been injured.
"Lopez suffered a contusion in the right thigh in the final of the ATP 250 in Quito, played on Sunday, and had to get medical attention during the final," the ATP said, as quoted by Fox News Latino.
The other Spanish players competing in the tournament are Fernando Verdasco, Pablo Andujar, Pablo Carreño, Albert Ramos, and Nicolas Almagro. The latter previously won the Brazil Open in 2008, 2011, and 2012, the news outlet detailed. Argentina's Federico Delbonis is reportedly aiming to defend his title, as well as another Spanish player, Tommy Robredo.
The first day of the main draw at the ATP clay-court tournament saw Uruguay's fifth-seeded Pablo Cuevas defeat Jiri Vesely of Czech Republic 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, Fox Sports noted.
The Quito event
"The Quito event is the first in a month of ATP and WTA clay-court tournaments across Latin America. Quito is at 2,800 meters (9,350 feet), a challenge for players unaccustomed to the thin air in the Andes," ESPN reported.
Another report from ESPN stated that Estrella Burgos was recently named Dominican Sportsman of the Year. Last Sunday, he became the first player from the Dominican Republic to get recognition at an ATP World Tour event. Lopez, on the other hand, may have lost, but he "became the ninth player to serve 7,000 career aces," ESPN wrote.
The Brazil Open which is being held in Sao Paulo, Brazil from Feb. 9 to Feb 15 has a total financial commitment (different from prize money) of $505,655. To clarify, ATP explained that "Prize Money is the onsite prize money awarded to players advancing within the tournament. Total Financial Commitment is the tournament's investment in the event including ATP Sanction and Marketing Fees, Onsite Prize Money and Bonus Pool Contributions, where applicable." For more information, visit the ATP World Tour website.