Zverev and Fonseca Shine at Argentina Open

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Alexander Zverev continued his dominance at the IEB+ Argentina Open, defeating Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-4 on February 12, 2025, to advance to the quarter-finals. The top-seeded German displayed resilience and skill in his first match since reaching the final of his last tournament.

Zverev, currently ranked World No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, improved his Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Lajovic to 5-0. The match lasted one hour and 37 minutes, during which Zverev had to fend off challenges from Lajovic, who played aggressively and disrupted Zverev’s rhythm. “I’m happy with my win today,” Zverev said. “Maybe not the best match I’ve played, but it’s great to get your first win on clay court. The Argentines are very passionate, so it’s incredible to see a lot of people out for a first-round match.”

With an 80 percent first-serve success rate, Zverev’s performance on serve was crucial to his victory. He battled through a tough four-deuce game at 4-3 in the second set but ultimately prevailed.

In related news, 18-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca made headlines after securing a remarkable comeback victory over home favorite Mariano Navone, winning 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Fonseca rallied from a break down in the second set and saved two match points before sealing the match in nearly three hours. This win marks Fonseca’s ascent to the semi-finals, making him the youngest Brazilian semi-finalist in the Open Era.

“Those are the victories that we work for,” Fonseca remarked after the match. “I was not playing my best and I fought until the end. I feel amazing. It wasn’t easy against Mariano, but I’m just very happy with how I fought today.”

Fonseca’s victory comes after he gained entry into the tournament through the Next Gen Accelerator program, which supports young talent. With this performance, Fonseca also climbed to a career-high No. 82 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He is now set to face Serbian qualifier Laslo Djere in the semi-finals.

Looking ahead, Zverev will face fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo, who has been in formidable form, having defeated his younger brother in a previous match. Cerundolo’s win over Zverev last year in Madrid adds an extra layer of anticipation to their upcoming match.

As the tournament progresses, both Zverev and Fonseca are solidifying their positions as top competitors on the ATP Tour, showcasing impressive tenacity and skill under pressure.