Brazil teenage phenom Joao Fonseca wins first ATP match

Joao Fonseca (Google Images)

On the same day that Ivo Karlovic of Croatia was retiring from tennis at age 44, a Brazilian teenager was just getting started. In the first round of the 2024 Rio Open in Brazil, 17-year-old Brazilian wildcard Joao Fonseca upset the seventh seed Arthur Fils of France, 6-0, 6-4, for his first career ATP victory.

What is stunning about Fonseca’s win is his age. According to the Associated Press, Fonseca became the first professional tennis player on the ATP Tour to record a win while being born in the 2006 calendar year. Fonseca will turn 18 on August 21.

It was quite simply a dominant performance for Fonseca, who did not commit a single double fault in the match, and broke Fils four times in nine opportunities. Fils meanwhile did not have a single breakpoint chance on Fonseca’s serve.

There are four Brazilian men in the second round of the 2024 Rio Open. Thiago Monteiro advanced to the second round after Carlos Alcaraz of Spain withdrew because of an ankle injury. The match was tied at one game apiece in the first set at the time of the withdrawal. Meanwhile, Felipe Meligeni Alves defeated Pedro Cachin of Argentina 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, and Thiago Seyboth Wild defeated Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

A Brazilian is guaranteed to reach the third round because Monteiro is facing Meligeni Alves in round two. Fonseca next plays Cristian Garin of Chile, and Seyboth Wild is facing Jaume Munar of Spain in round two. Seyboth Wild was actually leading Munar 6-2, 2-3, when the game was suspended on Wednesday due to darkness.

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