Joao Fonseca made a powerful Main debut! The 18-year-old Brazilian confronted Andrey Rublev within the Australian Open first spherical on Margaret Courtroom Enviornment and scored a notable 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 triumph in two hours and 23 minutes.
It isn’t typically that a youngster stands an opportunity towards a top-10 star in his first Main match. Nevertheless, Fonseca was the favourite towards Rublev for a lot of, and the younger gun proved that on the court docket. Joao has been on a roll within the earlier 4 weeks.
He conquered the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah earlier than kicking off the 2025 marketing campaign with the Canberra Challenger crown. Not stopping there, the younger gun certified for the Australian Open important attract type.
Fonseca drew Rublev and confirmed no signal of nerves on his Main debut. The younger gun claimed the pivotal factors and took down a top-10 rival for a spot within the second spherical. He’s additionally heading in the right direction to crack the top-100 after the Australian Open.
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Fonseca made the distinction together with his first serve. The younger gun took cost and fired 51 winners and 32 unforced errors, trusting his pictures and going for them. Rublev completed the duel on a 33-25 ratio. Not like earlier than, he saved his composure till the ultimate phases, smashing his racquet within the second tie break.
Joao claimed 19 factors extra, the essential ones in two tie breaks. He misplaced serve as soon as and created ten break possibilities. Andrey saved eight however hit the exit door after getting damaged two occasions. The Brazilian took cost within the mid-range exchanges between 5 and eight pictures.
Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The encounter kicked off with seven snug holds, with Rublev main 4-3 in simply over 20 minutes. Joao squandered a sport level within the eighth sport and confronted a break level. He claimed an entertaining level following Rublev’s forehand error and held for 4-4.
It was the one probability for the returners, they usually launched a tie break. The younger gun took all 4 factors on serve and introduced his A-game on the return. Joao began with a forehand crosscourt winner and gained two factors on serve for 3-0.
Fonseca took one other mini-break within the fourth level after a compelled error. He prolonged the lead and wrapped up the opener with a return winner at 6-1, constructing the benefit after 44 minutes. The Brazilian held after deuces at the start of the second set.
Joao Fonseca & Andrey Rublev, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
He stepped in on the return within the subsequent one and landed a backhand down the road winner for 3 break factors. Rublev hit a double fault, dropping serve at love and falling additional behind. The Russian saved two break factors within the fourth sport.
Fonseca denied one at 3-1 after a wild forehand from his opponent. Joao held at love in sport seven for 5-2 and wrapped up the set with one other excellent maintain two video games later. Fonseca fired an ace at 5-3 and moved two units to like in entrance after an hour and 21 minutes.
Andrey survived initially of the third set and offered his solely break at 2-1 to maneuver in entrance. The younger gun saved his composure and pulled the break again within the subsequent one on the fourth break probability. Joao saved a break level in sport eight with a forehand winner.
Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
It was the final alternative for the returners because the set went right into a tie break. The Russian felt the stress and skilled a mini-break within the first level after the Brazilian’s volley winner. Joao gained two factors on serve for 3-0 and grabbed one other mini-break.
Andrey missed a forehand and smashed his racquet in anger, figuring out the tip was close to. Fonseca misplaced two factors on serve, protecting his rival in rivalry earlier than cracking a backhand down the road winner at 5-5 for a match level.
The younger gun painted a forehand down the road winner, sealing the deal in type and celebrating his first Main victory at 18.
