Brazilian teen sensation, Joao Fonseca, defeated World No. #30 Hurkacz in the first round.
Joao Fonseca continues to shatter records in his French Open debut, as he overcame a tough second round battle against Pierre-Hugues Herbert to advance to the third round. The Brazilian was forced to toil hard, as the momentum kept shifting between the two players. Fonseca claimed two consecutive tiebreaks, showcasing remarkable composure under pressure.
Contrary to his first-round battle where Fonseca found plenty of crowd support, local hope Herbert was backed by the French crowd, but this did not deter the Brazilian’s confidence. He enjoyed success on his first serve with a handsome win percentage of 77%, and broke his rival’s serve on five instances.
In the third set, Fonseca broke early to clinch the match, becoming the youngest ever to qualify for the third round in Paris, in straight sets. The Brazilian surpassed 14-time Roland Garros winner Rafael Nadal, who held this record previously.
Earlier in the tournament, the eighteen-year-old became the second youngest player to win a main draw match at Roland Garros, when he beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. The Brazilian’s ability to hammer forehands at will and play with intent, makes him a crowd favourite.
Despite being relatively new to the ATP circuit, Fonseca has managed to fill the stadium with ease, and many reckon he is the next big thing in men’s tennis.
Joao Fonseca is currently ranked #54 on the ATP rankings, and is placed #29 on the live ATP race. The blockbuster contest between Jack Draper and Gael Monfils, will decide who plays the Brazilian on Saturday, for a spot in the round of 16.
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