Breakthrough performance for Joao Fonseca in Rio
With his first ATP tour-level wins, the 17-year-old tennis prodigy advanced to the quarterfinals at his home tournament in Rio de Janeiro.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, February 24, 2024 - A big week in front of an ecstatic home crowd had On athlete Joao Fonseca take his first significant steps on the ATP-level stage. Two wins catapulted the 17-year-old straight to the quarterfinals of his home tournament in Rio de Janeiro, where he ultimately had to concede defeat to Mariano Navone.
Coming into the tournament at No. 655 in the ATP Rankings, Fonseca scored a stunning upset against Frenchman and Next Gen ATP Finals runner-up Arthur Fils by taking a commanding 6-0, 6-4 win. With this victory, the Brazilian became the first player born in 2006 to win a main-draw ATP Tour match.
But Fonseca was far from being done. Bolstered by the boisterous support of his home crowd, the 17-year-old produced a second stunning win against Chilean Christian Garin (6-4, 6-4), making Fonsecao the second youngest ATP 500 quarter-finalist since the series began in 2009.
Despite his quarterfinal loss to Mariano Navone (6-2, 3-6, 3-6), the weekend had Fonseca advance to No. 343 in the ATP Rankings, and he will now look to make another splash as a wild card at the ATP 250 in Santiago, Chile.
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