João Fonseca Advances to Quarterfinals at ATP Buenos Aires with Stunning Comeback

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — In a thrilling comeback, 18-year-old João Fonseca secured his spot in the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 tournament in Buenos Aires by defeating Argentina’s Federico Coria 2-1 on February 13. Fonseca won the match with set scores of 2/6, 6/4, and 6/2, showcasing his resilience and tactical skill against a challenging opponent.

After losing the first set decisively, Fonseca regrouped and displayed an impressive performance to dominate the next two sets. This victory marks a significant milestone for the young Brazilian, making him the youngest player to reach the quarterfinals in this Argentine tournament since Richard Gasquet in 2004.

“It was a tough match,” Fonseca said following his victory. “I was a bit nervous at the start, making some easy errors. But I fought until the end, and it feels very special to reach my third quarterfinal in the ATP circuit.”

The match started with Coria capitalizing on Fonseca’s early mistakes. The Argentine broke Fonseca’s serve to lead 3-0, and despite a brief comeback from the Brazilian, Coria closed the first set 6/2. Throughout this initial phase, Fonseca struggled with unforced errors, particularly on his forehand.

After a tactical break between sets, Fonseca regained his composure. He began the second set strategically, breaking Coria’s serve early and holding onto his lead to eventually take the set 6/4. The shift in tactics proved pivotal, as Fonseca relied more on strategic placements rather than raw power.

With newfound confidence, Fonseca took control in the decisive third set, breaking Coria’s serve and maintaining his momentum to win 6/2. This win furthers Fonseca’s impressive recent form, having previously clinched victories in other ATP events, including the 2024 Rio Open.

Following this victory, Fonseca’s ranking is set to improve, and he could enter the top 90 for the first time, sitting at 89th ahead of the Rio Open scheduled to start on February 17. In the quarterfinals, he will face either Mariano Navone, the runner-up of the 2024 Rio Open, or Holger Rune, currently ranked 12th in the world.

“Now it’s about recovering and preparing for the next match,” Fonseca said, already looking ahead to the challenge of facing top-ranked players. “I’m happy to be competing at this level and looking forward to the rest of the tournament.”

With Fonseca’s rapid rise in the sport, tennis fans in Brazil are eager to see how he performs in the upcoming matches. His successful trajectory continues to attract attention, especially as he aims for a potential clash with fellow Brazilian Thiago Wild in the semifinals.