Joao Fonseca is a win away from securing his third Challenger crown on the Arizona Tennis Basic in Phoenix. The 18-year-old confronted Kei Nishokori within the semi-final and earned a rock-solid 6-3, 6-3 win in 67 minutes following a dependable efficiency on serve and return.
The younger gun defended his second serve beautifully and confronted no break factors. The veteran couldn’t comply with these numbers. Kei dropped 45% of the factors in his video games and suffered three breaks from 5 alternatives offered to his opponent.
Fonseca will compete in his fourth Challenger closing, with Alexander Bublik standing between him and the trophy in Sunday’s closing. If he repeats this efficiency, Joao needs to be the favourite in opposition to the struggling Kazakh.
Ball toss, Joao model 😊
* watch till the top *#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/CEita1retM
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 16, 2025
A youngster closed the opening recreation of the match with a forehand winner. He drew the rival’s mistake within the third recreation for 2-1 earlier than Nishikori offered a tremendous maintain within the subsequent one for 2-2. Fonseca held at 15 within the fifth recreation and made a push on the return within the subsequent one.
Kei Nishikori & Joao Fonseca, Phoenix Challenger 2025© Stream screenshot
Kei missed a backhand within the sixth recreation and confronted three break factors. Joao prompted the rival’s mistake, incomes a break at 15 and forging a 4-2 benefit. The Brazilian moved 5-2 up with one other snug maintain and served for the opener in recreation 9.
Fonseca fired a service winner, holding at 15 and transferring 6-3 up after 32 minutes. The younger gun served properly within the second set and saved the stress on the opposite aspect. Nishikori stayed in contact within the opening 4 video games.
Joao Fonseca, Phoenix Challenger 2025© Stream screenshot
The Japanese missed two recreation factors within the fifth recreation and missed a forehand, dropping serve and falling a set and a break behind. Joao landed a drop shot winner within the sixth recreation, cementing the benefit and transferring nearer to the end line.
The younger gun fired an ace within the eighth recreation, holding at love and protecting the stress on the opposite aspect. Kei served to remain within the match at 3-5 and confronted three match factors after Joao’s deep return. The Brazilian drew the rival’s mistake, incomes a break at love and transferring excessive in model.
