Alex de Minaur battled against the young gun Joao Fonseca and his partisan Brazilian crowd at Miami Open’s Stadium. The 10th seed prevailed over a teenager 5-7, 7-5 6-3 in two hours and 31 minutes for a place in the last 16.
Joao had a chance to notch another notable victory during his brilliant Miami Open run. The younger secured the opener with a late break and generated two break points at 4-4 in the second set. Facing the exit door, de Minaur denied them and stole the set with a late break.
Fonseca led 2-0 in the decider before dropping six of the next seven games, giving everything but ending his campaign in the third round.
Alex de Minaur’s reaction after beating João Fonseca in Miami
One of the biggest roars I’ve seen him let out
Facing the crowd & a fearless 18 year old… this took guts
The fighting spirit he showed was nothing short of exceptional
Ice cold 🥶😮💨
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 25, 2025
De Minaur claimed 13 points more than his rival. The Aussie served at 55% and drew the most from that, performing well behind the second serve and saving five of eight break points. Joao lost 39% of the points in his games and suffered four breaks from five chances presented to his opponent.
Alex landed 22 winners and 27 unforced errors. The Brazilian sprayed over 40 mistakes, 25 from his backhand that let him down! They stayed neck and neck in service winners and points at the net. De Minaur made the difference with a stronger performance from the baseline.
Alex de Minaur, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
They served well at the beginning of the duel, providing comfortable holds and locking the result at 5-5 after 35 minutes. Joao stepped in on the return in game 11. He welcomed the rival’s loose backhand to notch a break and move in front.
The young gun served for the set at 6-5 and landed a smash winner for a set point. He converted it after de Minaur’s backhand error, wrapping up the opener 7-5 in 44 minutes. The 10th seed responded with a break at love in the second game of the second set.
Alex de Minaur & Joao Fonseca, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
A teenager cracked a backhand down the line return winner in game five, pulling the break back and gaining a boost. Fonseca created a break chance in game seven and squandered it with a loose slice. De Minaur faced more issues on serve at 4-4.
He denied two break points with fine hitting and held for a 5-4 advantage. Joao served to stay in the set in game ten and provided a fine hold. He needed another at 5-6, but it did not happen! Alex created two set points and seized the first after the rival’s forehand error.
Joao Fonseca, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Thus, the Aussie introduced a decider after an hour and 45 minutes and gained confidence. Joao made a fresh start and grabbed a break in the first game of the second set. He landed an ace a few minutes later for a hold at love and a 2-0 advantage.
The Brazilian squandered three game points in the fourth game, which would cost him dearly! He played a wild forehand on the second break point, losing serve and bringing Alex back to the positive side. The Aussie held at love in game five and made another push on the return.
Alex de Minaur, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Fonseca missed a forehand in that sixth game, losing serve at love and smashing his racquet. De Minaur closed the seventh game with a service winner and served for victory at 5-3. He defended superbly in the fifth point and generated a match point.
The 10th seed seized it after the rival’s loose forehand, roaring toward his box and moving into the last 16.
Tennis World USA