Gustavo Heide is the first Brazilian confirmed in the main draw of the Rio Open 2024. The athlete won the IV Maria Esther Bueno Cup and earned an invitation to compete in the ATP 500, which will take place between the 17th and 25th of February at the Jockey Club Brazilian. Heide joins other confirmed tennis greats, such as Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, number 2 in the world, Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, champion of three Grand Slams and Frenchman Arthur Fils, representative of the new generation of the sport.
“The Rio Open is not just the ATP 500 that takes place in Rio de Janeiro. We try to work on several fronts, sustainability, diversity and, of course, encouraging the growth of Brazilian tennis. This was the main reason for creating the Maria Esther Bueno Cup. And with each edition, our idea proves to be more correct. These young boys who played incredible games this week will certainly soon be emerging in the world rankings. We don't just want to bring the best tennis players in the world. We want to help make new great tennis players”, commented the tournament director, Thomaz Costa.
This Sunday afternoon, on the clay courts of Sociedade Harmonia de Tênis, in São Paulo, Heide, who recently moved from Ribeirão Preto to Rio de Janeiro, defeated Gilbert Klier 6/4 6/4 and crowned an excellent season of 2023.
“I'm very happy, it's a dream come true. I'm ending the year on a high note, with this wild card for the Rio Open. Every tennis player dreams of playing ATP tournaments, especially with an ATP 500 being played in Brazil”, celebrated the 21-year-old athlete.
In 2024, the Rio Open reaches its tenth and historic edition. When Rafael Nadal lifted the champion's trophy in 2014, in the first year of the ATP 500, Heide was just 12 years old and watching on TV, dreaming of becoming a professional.
“In 2014, I was 12 years old. I was playing in Brazilian championships, dreaming of being a professional, watching the games on TV and now I will have my opportunity to play”, said the current 224th in the ranking.
Named in honor of the greatest Brazilian tennis player in history, champion of 19 Grand Slams, the Maria Esther Bueno Cup is a Rio Open initiative to encourage the new generation of national tennis. The champion of the competition receives an invitation to the main draw of the Brazilian ATP 500, while the runner-up is guaranteed in qualifying. This year, the Maria Esther Bueno Cup returned to the clay courts of Sociedade Harmonia de Tênis, a club in which the greatest winner of Brazilian tennis was a member and played the sport for much of her life.
“Maria Esther is a legend, she is gigantic, there is nothing to talk about. I'm very happy to win this Tournament that bears her name, especially on the court where she trained. I just have to thank everyone for this tournament, for this opportunity”, concluded Gustavo Heide.
The year 2023 has been a watershed for Gustavo Heide's still brief career. The tennis player rose more than 200 positions in the ranking and today occupies 244th place in singles and 228th in doubles. He won the gold medal at the Pan-American Games, alongside compatriot Marcelo Demoliner and also lifted the Santo Domingo Challenger and Florianópolis Challenger trophies, this time alongside fellow Brazilian Pedro Boscardin.
In singles, he was champion of the M25 in Trujillo, Peru; finalist in the Challenger in Bogotá, Colombia, and semifinalist in the Challenger in Montevideo, Uruguay, and in the Challenger in Palms der Mar, in Puerto Rico, when he was surpassed by the Japanese Kei Nishikori, former top 4 in the world.
The runner-up, Gilbert Klier, also had a good campaign in the Maria Esther Bueno Cup, arriving undefeated until the decision and guaranteeing an invitation to the Rio Open 2024 qualifying contest.
“Today was a good day, but Heide played very well, he has all his credit. I'm happy for him and I'm also happy for the place I won in the Rio Open qualifying. The preparation will be the same if I had managed to get a place in the main draw. Let’s follow the plans”, commented Klier.
MARIA ESTHER BUENO CUP CHAMPIONS
2023 - Gustavo Heide
2022 - Mateus Alves
2019 - Felipe Meligeni
2018 - Thiago Wild
Sunday results – December 10
Gustavo Heide (SP) d. Gilbert Klier (DF), 6/4 6/4
Saturday results - December 9
Gilbert Klier (DF) d. Matheus Pucinelli (SP), 7/5 6/3
Gustavo Heide (SP) d. João Lucas Reis (PE), 3/6 6/2 6/2
Results for Friday - December 8
João Lucas Reis (PE) d. Igor Gimenez (SP), 6/3 7/5
Gustavo Heide (SP) d. Mateus Alves (SP), 6/4 6/1
Matheus Pucinelli (SP) d. Henrique Nogueira (SP), 6/0 6/3
Gilbert Klier (DF) d. Nicolas Oliveira (RJ), 6/4 6/2
Results for Thursday - December 7th
Gilbert Klier (DF) d. João Lucas Reis (PE), 6/3 6/1
Igor Gimenez (SP) d. Nicolas Oliveira (RJ), 7/5 6/3
Results for Wednesday - December 6th
Gustavo Heide (SP) d. Matheus Pucinelli (SP), 7/6(5) 7/6(3)
Mateus Alves (SP) d. Henrique Nogueira (SP), 6/1 6/4
Results for Tuesday – December 5th
Matheus Pucinelli (SP) d. Mateus Alves (SP), 6/2 6/2
João Lucas Reis (PE) d. Nicolas Oliveira (RJ), 6/0 6/2
Gustavo Heide (SP) d. Henrique Nogueira (SP), 6/2 6/3
Gilbert Klier (DF) d. Igor Jiménez (SP), 6/1 6/0
“The Rio Open is not just the ATP 500 that takes place in Rio de Janeiro. We try to work on several fronts, sustainability, diversity and, of course, encouraging the growth of Brazilian tennis. This was the main reason for creating the Maria Esther Bueno Cup. And with each edition, our idea proves to be more correct. These young boys who played incredible games this week will certainly soon be emerging in the world rankings. We don't just want to bring the best tennis players in the world. We want to help make new great tennis players”, commented the tournament director, Thomaz Costa.
This Sunday afternoon, on the clay courts of Sociedade Harmonia de Tênis, in São Paulo, Heide, who recently moved from Ribeirão Preto to Rio de Janeiro, defeated Gilbert Klier 6/4 6/4 and crowned an excellent season of 2023.
“I'm very happy, it's a dream come true. I'm ending the year on a high note, with this wild card for the Rio Open. Every tennis player dreams of playing ATP tournaments, especially with an ATP 500 being played in Brazil”, celebrated the 21-year-old athlete.
In 2024, the Rio Open reaches its tenth and historic edition. When Rafael Nadal lifted the champion's trophy in 2014, in the first year of the ATP 500, Heide was just 12 years old and watching on TV, dreaming of becoming a professional.
“In 2014, I was 12 years old. I was playing in Brazilian championships, dreaming of being a professional, watching the games on TV and now I will have my opportunity to play”, said the current 224th in the ranking.
Named in honor of the greatest Brazilian tennis player in history, champion of 19 Grand Slams, the Maria Esther Bueno Cup is a Rio Open initiative to encourage the new generation of national tennis. The champion of the competition receives an invitation to the main draw of the Brazilian ATP 500, while the runner-up is guaranteed in qualifying. This year, the Maria Esther Bueno Cup returned to the clay courts of Sociedade Harmonia de Tênis, a club in which the greatest winner of Brazilian tennis was a member and played the sport for much of her life.
“Maria Esther is a legend, she is gigantic, there is nothing to talk about. I'm very happy to win this Tournament that bears her name, especially on the court where she trained. I just have to thank everyone for this tournament, for this opportunity”, concluded Gustavo Heide.
The year 2023 has been a watershed for Gustavo Heide's still brief career. The tennis player rose more than 200 positions in the ranking and today occupies 244th place in singles and 228th in doubles. He won the gold medal at the Pan-American Games, alongside compatriot Marcelo Demoliner and also lifted the Santo Domingo Challenger and Florianópolis Challenger trophies, this time alongside fellow Brazilian Pedro Boscardin.
In singles, he was champion of the M25 in Trujillo, Peru; finalist in the Challenger in Bogotá, Colombia, and semifinalist in the Challenger in Montevideo, Uruguay, and in the Challenger in Palms der Mar, in Puerto Rico, when he was surpassed by the Japanese Kei Nishikori, former top 4 in the world.
The runner-up, Gilbert Klier, also had a good campaign in the Maria Esther Bueno Cup, arriving undefeated until the decision and guaranteeing an invitation to the Rio Open 2024 qualifying contest.
“Today was a good day, but Heide played very well, he has all his credit. I'm happy for him and I'm also happy for the place I won in the Rio Open qualifying. The preparation will be the same if I had managed to get a place in the main draw. Let’s follow the plans”, commented Klier.
MARIA ESTHER BUENO CUP CHAMPIONS
2023 - Gustavo Heide
2022 - Mateus Alves
2019 - Felipe Meligeni
2018 - Thiago Wild
Sunday results – December 10
Gustavo Heide (SP) d. Gilbert Klier (DF), 6/4 6/4
Saturday results - December 9
Gilbert Klier (DF) d. Matheus Pucinelli (SP), 7/5 6/3
Gustavo Heide (SP) d. João Lucas Reis (PE), 3/6 6/2 6/2
Results for Friday - December 8
João Lucas Reis (PE) d. Igor Gimenez (SP), 6/3 7/5
Gustavo Heide (SP) d. Mateus Alves (SP), 6/4 6/1
Matheus Pucinelli (SP) d. Henrique Nogueira (SP), 6/0 6/3
Gilbert Klier (DF) d. Nicolas Oliveira (RJ), 6/4 6/2
Results for Thursday - December 7th
Gilbert Klier (DF) d. João Lucas Reis (PE), 6/3 6/1
Igor Gimenez (SP) d. Nicolas Oliveira (RJ), 7/5 6/3
Results for Wednesday - December 6th
Gustavo Heide (SP) d. Matheus Pucinelli (SP), 7/6(5) 7/6(3)
Mateus Alves (SP) d. Henrique Nogueira (SP), 6/1 6/4
Results for Tuesday – December 5th
Matheus Pucinelli (SP) d. Mateus Alves (SP), 6/2 6/2
João Lucas Reis (PE) d. Nicolas Oliveira (RJ), 6/0 6/2
Gustavo Heide (SP) d. Henrique Nogueira (SP), 6/2 6/3
Gilbert Klier (DF) d. Igor Jiménez (SP), 6/1 6/0
