World no. 80 Joao Fonseca is through to the Arizona Tennis Classic semi-final. The young Brazilian faced Hugo Gaston in the Phoenix Challenger quarter-final and scored a 6-4, 6-4 victory in 70 minutes. Fonseca and Gaston met the legend ahead of their duel!
The eight-time Major champion Andre Agassi, who retired a couple of weeks after the Brazilian was born, was there during the coin toss. Joao claimed 15 points more than Hugo and outplayed him on serve and return.
A teenager defended two of three break points, losing serve once in the opener after building the advantage. He turned 44% of the return points into three breaks from four chances.
Andre Agassi x Joao Fonseca last night in Phoenix 🌟🌟
Fun fact: Joao was born during the 2006 US Open… which is where Andre Agassi retired!
📸 @aztennisclassic pic.twitter.com/QZrKg7oMTX
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) March 15, 2025
The opening set was fast and fluid, with no deuces in ten games and 31 minutes required to complete them. Joao held with a smash winner in the second game and made a push on the return in the next one. The young gun landed a forehand winner and created two break chances.
He attacked on the first and drew the rival’s forehand mistake to secure a break and forge a 2-1 advantage. Fonseca cemented the break with a service winner in the fourth game and stepped in on the return in the next one.
Joao Fonseca & Hugo Gaston, Phoenix Challenger 2025© Stream screenshot
The Brazilian attacked and secured a a break at love with a forced error, extending the lead to 4-1. Gaston pulled one break back in game six following the rival’s drop shot error. Hugo held at 15 in game seven and reduced the gap to 4-3.
Joao secured the eighth game with a service winner and served for the opener at 5-4. He landed a smash winner for two set points and fired a powerful serve on the first, clinching the opener 6-4 in 31 minutes. A teenager held at love in the second game of the second set.
Joao Fonseca, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
A left-hander missed a forehand in the third game, suffering a break at 15 and falling a set and a break behind. Fonseca missed a forehand in the fourth game and offered his rival a break chance. He saved it with a forehand down the line winner and hit a service winner for 3-1.
The young gun landed an ace in the sixth game and moved 4-2 in front. He held at 30 in the eighth game and extended the gap to 5-3. Joao served for the win at 5-4 and missed a forehand on a match point. He created the second with a fine attack.
The 18-year-old drew the rival’s mistake to seal the deal and arrange the semi-final clash against Kei Nishikori.
Tennis World USA