A difficult start of the tournament for Thomaz Bellucci.
Now ranked world no.130, Bellucci is trying to get back to a better ranking.
Thomaz was facing world no. 60 Santiago Giraldo in his first match in Rio to put up a 2 hours and 25 minutes fight. After losing the opening set 6-3, Bellucci had hard time to win the second set to win the decisive break only in the 10th game.
In the 3rd set the Brazilian won the decisive break in the 8th game (5-3) to then hold his serve and win the decider 6-3.
Bellucci will play either Monaco or Zeballos in the second round.
