Rio Open 2018

By M. Mendes Celadeira

​I went to Jockey Club in Rio de Janeiro to watch an event that only happens once a year: Rio open.
I had my family and some friends with me there and had low expectations at first but it turned out very nice at the end. Tennis wasn’t the only entertainment, there was also food such as ice cream, hot dog, burgers and popcorn; besides there was also some stores with tennis products, for example, clothes, rackets, trainers etc.My friend Sophia and I got to the stadium and there was a game which was ending, it finished and another game started. Fognini against Verdasco, it was already night time, so we didn’t feel so hot. The game started, quiet like a cemetery, there was not a single sound until the point finished. They were both sweating a lot, using their best abilities and achieving the most they could. It was unpredictable to know who was going to win, my eyes were wide and running after the ball. That was when Verdasco started to win, I was cheering for him anyway, and after some points, he finally won! He deserved it for his effort. We also appeared on the TV screen during the interval, which was nice!

Later that night, I watched a doubles-men match, which was from Mektić and Peya vs Marrero and Verdasco, which I personally thought was more entertaining. This is because the points were longer and the game was a bit harder for the players, so as a result, there was more pressure on people. This game was probably a bit longer than the single game, but it was worth it and I really enjoyed myself.

I really recommend people who are 10 years old or over to visit Rio and enjoy the championship. From my experience, it sounds less interesting than it actually is, but I’m sure you and your family will love your time there.