Joao Fonseca claimed his third Challenger title at the Arizona Tennis Classic in Phoenix. The 18-year-old faced Alexander Bublik in the title clash and earned a hard-fought 7-6, 7-6 victory in an hour and 43 minutes.
Fonseca is 23-4 in 2025, climbing through the ATP ranking list and cracking the top-60 after claiming 175 ATP points in Phoenix. The Brazilian claimed 12 points more than the Kazakh and prevailed in the pivotal moments.
Joa made the difference behind the second serve, facing four break points and getting broken two times. Bublik had to dig deep in his games, defending nine of 11 break points and remaining competitive until the tie breaks.
The second-youngest player from South America to win three Challenger titles 👏🇧🇷#ATPChallenger | @aztennisclassic pic.twitter.com/bpbWN2yqxN
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 16, 2025
They served well in the opening six games of the duel, with Fonseca firing a forehand winner and locking the result at 3-3. Bublik squandered two game points in game seven and got broken after a loose drop shot that sent the young gun in front.
Alexander secured the ninth game with a forehand winner and made a push on the return at 4-5. The Kazakh painted a forehand crosscourt winner for a break point and drew the rival’s mistake with a volley attack to pull the break back and level the score at 5-5.
Joao Fonseca & Alexander Bublik, 2025 Phoenix Challenger© Stream screenshot
Joao left that setback behind and landed a forehand winner in game 11 for another break, serving for the set for the second time. The young gun generated three set points at 6-5 and squandered them, allowing his rival to break back with a backhand down the line return winner.
The servers claimed the opening eight points of the tie break. Fonseca moved 5-4 up with a backhand down the line winner before missing a forehand in the next one. Joao landed a service winner for 6-5 and converted a set point after Alexander’s volley error.
Joao Fonseca, 2025 Phoenix Challenger© Stream screenshot
The Brazilian wrapped up the first part of the duel in 49 minutes and gained confidence. Bublik had to dig deep in the fourth game of the second set. The more experienced player denied four break points and remained on the positive side.
The Kazakh saved another break chance in game eight with a crafty volley winner before facing the ultimate test at 4-5. Bublik played against two match points and denied them with booming serves before holding for 5-5 and more drama.
Joao Fonseca, 2025 Phoenix Challenger© Stream screenshot
Joao played against two break points in the 11th game and denied them with winners. He created the third match point on the return at 6-5, and Alexander saved it with a service winner for more drama. Fonseca made a strong start in the tie break.
He landed a forehand winner for 3-0 and hit two booming serves for a 5-0 advantage. A teenager painted a forehand winner for a 6-0 lead and six match points. He converted the first after Bublik’s volley mistake, celebrating his second Challenger title of the season.
Tennis World USA