Gonzalez/Molteni Capture Second Doubles Title Of Golden Swing

Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni can leave the ‘Golden Swing’ happy. The Argentines won a late-night championship match at the Rio Open presented by Claro to claim their second title (Cordoba) of the South American clay-court swing.

At nearly 12:45 a.m. local time, Gonzalez and Molteni downed second seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Marcelo Melo 6-1, 7-6(3) to win the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro.

Gonzalez and Molteni’s first deliveries were effective in the final; the pair won 33 of 40 points off their first serves. In the second set, the Argentines held their nerve as they fended off two set points on their serve to avoid a match tie-break.

The Rio crown marks Gonzalez and Molteni’s third team title. When they made their partnership debut in October 2022 at the ATP 250 in Gijon, they went on a title run and have since made three additional tour-level finals (Vienna, Cordoba, Rio).

Home favourite Melo was seeking his first title on Brazilian soil since Costa do Sauipe in 2011. The 39-year-old veteran was chasing his 37th title and first in Rio.