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Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca pulled off a remarkable upset in his NextGen ATP Finals debut, defeating top seed and 2023 runner-up Arthur Fils in a thrilling five-set match on Wednesday.
Fonseca Shakes Off Low Ranking to Defeat Fils
At just 18 years old, Fonseca was the youngest player in the tournament’s eight-man field and made light of his lowly world ranking of 145. The Brazilian claimed a 3-4 (9/11), 4-2, 4-1, 1-4, 4-1 victory over Fils, the world number 20 from France.
Fils, who had entered the event as the title favorite following a strong 2023 season, including reaching the finals of the NextGen ATP Finals and winning two ATP Tour titles, was unable to break Fonseca’s resilience.
Fonseca had already defeated Fils earlier this year in Rio for his first tour-level win, and this time, the Brazilian’s powerful play once again proved decisive. “I knew it was going to be hard from the first point,” Fonseca said after the match. “In important moments, I played better. I went for the ball and played aggressively, which I think made the difference.”
Learner Tien Upsets Jakub Mensik in the Blue Group
In other action from the Blue Group, American Learner Tien, ranked 122nd, stunned Czech world number 48 Jakub Mensik in a five-set thriller. Tien secured the victory 4-3 (8/6), 4-3 (7/3), 2-4, 2-4, 4-3 (10/8), saving a match point along the way.
“It was tough playing a guy who serves that well,” Tien remarked after the match. Mensik’s powerful serve, which included 20 aces, was not enough to hold off the American, who displayed remarkable composure under pressure.
Fonseca, having previously defeated Tien in the final of the US Open junior event last year, will face the American in his next match on Thursday.
Luca Van Assche Triumphs in the Red Group
In the Red Group, France’s Luca Van Assche, a semi-finalist in the 2023 edition, overcame China’s Shang Juncheng 4-3 (7/3), 2-4, 4-1, 4-3 (7/5). Van Assche credited his experience from last year’s tournament for his victory, saying, “The experience of last year helped me a lot today.”
Shang, who is ranked 50th in the world, can still advance to the semi-finals, with American players Alex Michelsen and Nishesh Basavareddy also in his pool. In the day’s other Red Group match, world number 41 Michelsen defeated Basavareddy in four sets to begin his tournament campaign.
What’s Next?
With Fonseca’s stunning win and Tien’s breakthrough performance, the NextGen ATP Finals are shaping up to be full of exciting upsets and intense matchups. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the young stars as they aim to continue their strong performances and potentially make history in Jeddah.
