Brazil’s Joao Fonseca Triumphs in Indian Wells Debut Match

INDIAN WELLS, California, March 6, 2025 — Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca made a stunning debut at the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday, defeating Great Britain’s Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. The win came after Fonseca rallied from a break down in the deciding set, showcasing his resilience and skill under challenging windy conditions.

The match, held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, began with Fonseca dominating the first set. He broke Fearnley’s serve early, taking a quick 2-0 lead. However, Fearnley, a former standout at Texas Christian University, leveled the match in the second set, riding the momentum to claim a 6-1 victory.

In the third set, Fearnley surged ahead to a 3-1 lead, seemingly on track to take control. Yet, Fonseca quickly shifted gears, enhancing his shot-making abilities to win the final five games. He sealed the victory with a spectacular lunge volley, delighting his vocal Brazilian fans in attendance.

“It’s a pleasure being here on center court at Indian Wells. It’s a dream,” Fonseca said after the match. “They call it the fifth Grand Slam, and I can understand why. It feels like paradise. I’m really grateful to have made it through today, especially in such difficult windy conditions.”

Fonseca’s victory continues a remarkable streak for the 18-year-old, who recently garnered attention for defeating Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open, marking his first win over a top-10 opponent. He also captured his first ATP Tour title at Buenos Aires last month and is currently ranked 80th in the world.

Next, Fonseca is set to face No. 13 seed Jack Draper in the second round. “I will approach that match with confidence,” Fonseca stated, excited about the upcoming challenge.

In other notable matches on Thursday, American Jenson Brooksby overcame a slow start to defeat France’s Benjamin Bonzi 1-6, 7-5, 7-5, marking his return to form after a 13-month suspension for missing drug tests. Brooksby, now back on tour, aims to continue his comeback against 17th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Notably, former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios retired from his match against Botic van de Zandschulp due to a wrist injury while trailing 7-6(7), 3-0. An emotional Kyrgios expressed disappointment, having struggled to manage his injury throughout the match.

In women’s action, Emma Raducanu suffered another early exit, losing to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 6-2. Raducanu, the former U.S. Open champion, pointed to the windy conditions as a significant challenge in her match.

Paula Badosa, the 2021 Indian Wells champion, withdrew from her match against Caroline Dolehide due to a lower back injury. “I’m very sorry to withdraw from one of my favorite tournaments,” Badosa said. “I tried until the last moment to play, but I am really sad.”