18-year-old Joao Fonseca is off to a winning start at the first Masters 1000 event of the season. The young Brazilian debuted in Indian Wells against Jacob Fearnley on Stadium 1 and earned a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 triumph in two hours.
Fonseca lost the ground in the second set and trailed 3-1 in the decider before rattling off five games and earning his second Masters 1000 victory. A teenager claimed eight points more than his opponent, who fought well until the second part of the final set.
Both players served under 60%, and Joao struggled behind the second serve. He denied six of nine break points and turned 44% of the return points into four breaks from seven opportunities.
The moment Fonseca won his first-ever match in Indian Wells 🔥#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/TLxmWMhORD
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Fearnley set the tone with his forehand. The Briton fired 29 winners and sprayed 45 unforced errors. Fonseca delivered more reduced 17-34 ratio and will have to raise his level in the second round against the British no. 1, Jack Draper.
Joao made a reliable start and broke at 15 in the first game of the encounter. He served well in the opening three games, firing a forehand winner in game six for a hold at love. Jacob missed a game point in game seven and lost serve for the second time to fall 5-2 behind.
Joao Fonseca, Indian Wells 2025 © Stream screenshot
The young gun served for the opener in game eight and closed it with a forehand winner for 6-2 in 32 minutes. Fearnley took charge in the second set and outplayed his rival on serve and return. Fonseca denied break points in the second game and held after numerous deuces.
However, his initial shot did not work. The Brazilian missed a routine forehand in the fourth game, experiencing a break and falling 3-1 behind. Jacob held at love in game five to extend the gap and made another push on the return in the next one.
Joao Fonseca, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
The Briton drew the rival’s mistake and delivered his second break, moving 5-1 up and serving for the set. The former college star held at 30, wrapping up the set 6-1 and forcing a decider after an hour and seven minutes.
Joao struggled on serve again at 1-1. He missed game points and experienced a break after Fearnley’s fine volley attack. Fonseca denied the opponent’s five game points in game four and generated a break chance with a smash winner.
The Briton denied it with a service winner and landed another for 3-1. Jacob wasted two game points at 3-2, which marked the beginning of his downfall! He hit a costly double fault on a break point, allowing the young gun to erase the deficit and lock the result at 3-3.
Joao Fonseca, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
Fonseca closed the seventh game with an ace down the T line and took the pivotal points on the return in the next one. Jacob missed his opportunities and suffered the second straight break after a careless forehand. Thus, Joao moved 5-3 up and served for the win.
The Brazilian landed a backhand volley winner on a match point, sealing the deal and moving into the second round.
Tennis World USA