A year after claiming his first ATP win, the 18-year-old Joao Fonseca is an ATP champion! The young Brazilian lifted a trophy at the ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires following a 6-4, 7-6 triumph over the local hero, Francisco Cerundolo.
A teenager sealed the deal in an hour and 45 minutes. He held his nerves in the closing stages of the second set and moved over the top in the tie break. Fonseca served for the title two times in the second set. He squandered his chances and kept his rival alive.
The young gun stayed focused in the tie break, firing a forehand down the line winner on a match point and celebrating his first out of many ATP titles. At 18 years, five months and 26 days, Joao became the seventh-youngest champion on the ATP Tour since 1990.
THE FUTURE IS NOW.
THE FUTURE IS JOAO.
Your 2025 @ArgentinaOpen champion, Joao Fonseca!! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/1kjys7DrRi
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 16, 2025
They traded breaks at the beginning of the duel and served well in the next four games to lock the result at 3-3. The home favorite experienced a massive setback in the seventh game. Cerundolo wasted two game points and dropped serve after a huge forehand drive-volley error.
Joao Fonseca, Buenos Aires 2025© Stream screenshot
The young gun held after deuces in game eight to cement the advantage. Joao served for the opener at 5-4 and fired an ace on a set point after a deuce. He wrapped up the first part of the duel in 44 minutes and gained a massive boost.
Cerundolo denied a break point at the beginning of the second set before playing a loose service game at 2-2. The Argentine sprayed a forehand error, dropping serve and falling a set and a break down. Joao saved a break point in the next one and built a 4-2 advantage.
Joao Fonseca, Buenos Aires 2025© Stream screenshot
They served well in the next three games, and a teenager needed another fine hold at 5-4. He felt the pressure and missed a backhand to drop serve and bring his rival back to the positive side. Fonseca delivered another break in game 11 and served for the title for the second time.
However, Francisco pulled another break back and kept his chances alive. Joao made a fresh start in the tie break and welcomed the rival’s mistake in the first point. The 18-year-old landed a backhand down the line winner and cracked a forehand crosscourt winner to open a 3-0 gap.
Francisco Cerundolo & Joao Fonseca, Buenos Aires 2025© Stream screenshot
The Argentine missed a forehand in the fourth point and fell 4-0 behind. Joao drew Francisco’s mistake in the sixth point and moved 5-1 up. A teenager attacked and landed a volley winner at the net for 6-1 and five match points.
Fonseca cracked a forehand down the line winner on the first, falling to the ground and celebrating his first ATP title at 18 years and five months.
Tennis World USA