João Fonseca and Rafael Matos Fall in Doubles at Basel ATP 500

São Paulo, Brazil – João Fonseca returned to the court on Monday in the doubles draw of the ATP 500 in Basel, Switzerland, but faced defeat. Teamed with fellow Brazilian Rafael Matos, they initially took the lead and even had a match point in the second set. However, they lost to French veterans Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who received a wild card for the tournament, with scores of 6/7(2), 7/6(6), and 11/9.

The match was filled with drama as the French duo saved ten break points and four set points during the first set. Despite these challenges, Matos and Fonseca performed better in the tie-break, winning that set 7/6(2). In the second set, the Brazilians broke first and had their chance to finish the match when Matos served at 6/5.

But on match point, Mahut hit a well-placed return that forced an error from João, breaking Matos’s serve. The set ended up requiring another tie-break, where the French players surged ahead to 6/2 with multiple set points, yet the Brazilians fought back, leveling the score at 6/6. Unfortunately, a precise volley by Mahut sealed the second set for the French, 7/6(6).

In the deciding match tie-break, both teams were closely matched until Herbert won a crucial net battle against Fonseca, allowing the French team to gain a mini-break lead. Mahut followed through with his serves, bringing the score to 9/6. The Brazilians managed to save two match points, and a superb return from João kept them in contention at 9/9. However, Herbert served an ace and then delivered a solid return that forced Matos into an error, clinching the match for the French at 11/9.

In the quarter-finals, Mahut and Herbert will face the winners of the match between Rohan Bopanna and Ben Shelton against the fourth-seeded duo, Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. Meanwhile, Fonseca is set to begin his singles campaign on Tuesday against French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, currently ranked 33rd in the world. The tournament organizers have yet to confirm the match time.