ATP 250 ARGENTINA OPEN. By Leo Canaparo
Joao Fonseca achieved a significant milestone in his promising career on Saturday by advancing to the championship match of the IEB+ Argentina Open, becoming the youngest ATP finalist on clay since Carlos Alcaraz in 2021.
The 18-year-old Brazilian battled past Serbian Laslo Djere 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-1 in an intense and hard-fought semi-final, drawing energy from a passionate contingent of Brazilian supporters in Buenos Aires.
Fonseca served for the match at 5-3 in the second set but faltered, allowing the 29-year-old Djere to break back. Eager to recover, the teenager earned a match point in the following game but sent a backhand long, giving Djere the opportunity to win four consecutive games and force a decisive third set.
Having already saved two match points in his gruelling quarter-final win over Mariano Navone, Fonseca faced another physical challenge against Djere. He called for medical assistance at 2-1 in the final set due to an abdominal issue but managed to raise his level when it mattered most, hitting 27 forehand winners and 11 backhand winners, as per Infosys ATP Stats.
Despite missing six break points in the opening set, Fonseca maintained his composure in the tie-break, delivering a stunning inside-in forehand at 3/1. The #NextGenATP star has played three deciding sets in four matches this week, including a two-hour, 36-minute battle against the former World No. 27.
Fonseca is the youngest South American ATP Tour finalist since Argentine Jose Acasuso in 2001. He will aim for his maiden ATP title against fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo.
This result propels Fonseca up 25 places to a career-high No. 74 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He gained entry into the Buenos Aires draw through the Next Gen Accelerator programme, which offers Top 250 players aged 20-and-under a main draw spot and two qualifying opportunities at ATP 250 events this season.
“Really special,” Fonseca said when reflecting on the win. “Today was really difficult, against a really good player. He went through qualies, so he’s playing amazing tennis. We already knew how Laslo can play, he won an ATP 500 [in 2019]. So, I played my best. Today was with my heart. Today was with pain. And we got through. There is one match to go, so let’s go for it.”