18-year-old Joao Fonseca ended his winning streak in the Australian Open second round. The young gun suffered a 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 loss to Lorenzo Sonego in three hours and 37 minutes, giving everything but ending his first Major journey.
The more experienced player lost the opener before turning the tables in the second and third. A teenager responded with a fine performance in the fourth set before the Italian moved over the top after taking three straight games at 3-3 in the decider.
Joao could not overpower his opponent like he did against Andrey Rublev. The Brazilian left his heart on the court and received applause from his rival while leaving 1573 Arena. The 18-year-old lost but gathered valuable experience reserved only for the five-setter Major thrillers.
See you soon, Joao 👏
The best is yet to come…🇧🇷#AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/YSI87ho4Ma
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2025
Sonego collected 22 points more than Fonseca, producing more efficient numbers behind the first and second serve. The Italian hit 46 winners and 41 unforced errors while the Brazilian stood on a 40-40 ratio, failing to outplay his opponent.
The young gun remained competitive despite earning only one break in over three and a half hours. Sonego earned 12 break chances and converted five, including the pivotal one in the second part of the final set.
Lorenzo Sonego, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Lorenzo found the rhythm behind the initial shot right from the start, serving well in the opener. Joao denied two break points in the fourth game and avoided an early setback. They served well in the next five games, with the Italian moving 5-4 up with a powerful serve.
He drew the young gun’s error with a deep return in the tenth game and generated a set point. A teenager denied it with a powerful serve and held for 5-5. Fonseca faced another set point at 5-6 and erased it with a service winner, refusing to surrender.
The set went into a tie break, and a qualifier moved 5-2 up after a mini-break in the fifth point. Joao won another point on the return for 6-3 and three set points. He squandered two on his serve, and Lorenzo fired an ace in the 12th point for 6-6.
Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Italian missed a forehand in the 13th point, and the Brazilian converted the fourth set point with a forced error for a massive boost. Sonego stepped in on the return in the second set. He secured the first break of the duel in the third game and moved in front.
Lorenzo saved a break point in the sixth game with another booming serve and produced a fine hold two games later for 5-3. The more experienced player made another push on the return in game nine, clinching the set 6-3 and leveling the overall score.
Sonego denied a break point at the beginning of the third set and took charge on the return. Fonseca netted a volley at the net in the fourth game, dropping serve at love and falling 3-1 behind. Lorenzo made another push on the return at 4-1.
Lorenzo Sonego & Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
He attacked and drew the rival’s mistake for another break and a 5-1 advantage. The Italian saved two break points in the seventh game and landed a service winner to wrap up the set 6-1 and move closer to the finish line.
Joao served better in the fourth set, providing five holds and making the difference with an early break. The Brazilian secured a break in the second game after the rival’s costly double fault. The young gun held at love for a 3-0 lead.
The returners stood no chance in the remaining games. Fonseca cracked a backhand down the line winner in the ninth game for 6-3, forcing a decider in style. They served well in the opening six games before the young gun earned a break chance at 3-3 with a forehand return winner.
Lorenzo Sonego, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Lorenzo saved it with a service winner and held for 4-3. It gave him a boost and a break chance in the next one after a forehand crosscourt winner. The youngster missed a routine forehand, dropping serve and falling 5-3 behind!
Sonego served for the win in game nine and fired a service winner on a match point to seal the deal and prevail over a dangerous opponent.
Tennis World USA