Joao Fonseca scored his first ATP win in entrance of the house followers in Rio a yr in the past. The 18-year-old returned to his native occasion on Tuesday evening because the ATP champion! On Sunday, Fonseca claimed his first ATP title in Buenos Aires.
A young person wished for an additional good run in entrance of the partisan crowd however couldn’t obtain that. Joao fell to Alexandre Muller 6-1, 7-6 within the first spherical, ending his marketing campaign a lot sooner than anticipated and feeling mighty upset.
Fonseca didn’t label bodily points for his early exit. He cited nerves and concern as the principle causes for underperforming in entrance of the house crowd. A young person will return to the follow court docket on Thursday, specializing in the upcoming challenges.
João Fonseca steps on court docket to play his 1st spherical match in Rio
He grew up 10 minutes from these courts
Tonight, he returns to a packed stadium
Everybody right here goes to cheer for him like he’s their little brother
Scenes 🇧🇷🥹
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 19, 2025
The extra skilled participant introduced the victory residence in an hour and 32 minutes. Muller had the higher hand within the opener and prevailed in set quantity two for a successful begin. The Frenchman dropped 17 factors behind the preliminary shot and defended each break factors.
The younger gun felt the strain and cracked below it within the opening set. He missed too many pictures and did not mirror his stage from Buenos Aires. Joao saved eight of ten break factors, dropping serve two instances within the opener and serving higher within the second.
Joao Fonseca & Alexandre Muller, Rio 2025© Stream screenshot
Muller completed the duel on a 16-14 ratio, taming his strokes properly. Fonseca attacked however couldn’t discover his targets, accumulating 23 direct factors and 34 errors. Alexandre saved a break level within the first recreation of the match and broke the younger gun at love within the subsequent one with a forehand winner.
Struggling to impose his strokes, Fonseca missed a forehand within the fourth recreation and skilled one other break to fall 4-0 behind. The house star created a break probability at 1-5 and squandered it with a wayward forehand.
Muller landed a service winner on his third set level for 6-1 in 28 minutes. Joao performed in opposition to three break factors within the first recreation of the second set. He saved them and held for a lift. A young person labored laborious at 1-1, repelling two break factors with highly effective serve and remaining in contact.
Joao Fonseca, Rio 2025© Stream screenshot
Alexandre created one other break level at 4-4, and the younger gun saved it with a pressured error. The house star closed the sport with a service winner and prolonged his probabilities. There have been no probabilities for the returners within the remaining three video games as they launched a tie break.
Muller kicked it off with a return winner earlier than lacking a volley within the third level. Joao skilled one other setback at 2-2, hitting a double fault and falling behind. The Frenchman constructed a 5-2 benefit, and the Brazilian responded with two backhand winners.
Joao Fonseca, Rio 2025© Stream screenshot
Fonseca had an opportunity to erase the deficit within the tenth level. He performed a routine backhand lengthy and confronted two match factors. Alexandre seized the primary, incomes a win and sending the house star packing.
“I knew I would get nervous and face the fear of playing in front of so many people at home. It’s about learning from these experiences and becoming stronger. I can only thank all the Brazilians for their devotion.
They are the best crowd in the world, and I’m sad for not being able to play at least one more match in front of them. That will happen in the upcoming years. I could not produce my usual tennis against Alexandre. I lacked consistency and I failed to engage with the crowd.
Joao Fonseca, Buenos Aires 2025© Stream screenshot
I was not myself. I improved in the second set, breathing better and feeling less nervous. However, it was not enough. I’m very sad for not performing at my best. I was 100% physically, it had nothing to do with that.
I struggled mentally, and I already talked to my coach, explaining how I could not handle nerves and fear. This is just the beginning, and I have a long way ahead. I will practice on Thursday and prepare for the next tournaments while seeking improvements,” Joao Fonseca stated.
