Alex de Minaur battled towards the younger gun Joao Fonseca and his partisan Brazilian crowd at Miami Open’s Stadium. The tenth seed prevailed over a young person 5-7, 7-5 6-3 in two hours and 31 minutes for a spot within the final 16.
Joao had an opportunity to notch one other notable victory throughout his sensible Miami Open run. The youthful secured the opener with a late break and generated two break factors at 4-4 within the second set. Going through the exit door, de Minaur denied them and stole the set with a late break.
Fonseca led 2-0 within the decider earlier than dropping six of the subsequent seven video games, giving every thing however ending his marketing campaign within the third spherical.
Alex de Minaur’s response after beating João Fonseca in Miami
One of many largest roars I’ve seen him let loose
Going through the group & a fearless 18 yr outdated… this took guts
The combating spirit he confirmed was nothing in need of distinctive
Ice chilly 🥶😮💨
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 25, 2025
De Minaur claimed 13 factors greater than his rival. The Aussie served at 55% and drew probably the most from that, performing properly behind the second serve and saving 5 of eight break factors. Joao misplaced 39% of the factors in his video games and suffered 4 breaks from 5 possibilities offered to his opponent.
Alex landed 22 winners and 27 unforced errors. The Brazilian sprayed over 40 errors, 25 from his backhand that allow him down! They stayed neck and neck in service winners and factors on the internet. De Minaur made the distinction with a stronger efficiency from the baseline.
Alex de Minaur, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
They served properly at first of the duel, offering comfy holds and locking the end result at 5-5 after 35 minutes. Joao stepped in on the return in recreation 11. He welcomed the rival’s free backhand to notch a break and transfer in entrance.
The younger gun served for the set at 6-5 and landed a smash winner for a set level. He transformed it after de Minaur’s backhand error, wrapping up the opener 7-5 in 44 minutes. The tenth seed responded with a break at love within the second recreation of the second set.
Alex de Minaur & Joao Fonseca, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
A young person cracked a backhand down the road return winner in recreation 5, pulling the break again and gaining a lift. Fonseca created a break probability in recreation seven and squandered it with a free slice. De Minaur confronted extra points on serve at 4-4.
He denied two break factors with tremendous hitting and held for a 5-4 benefit. Joao served to remain within the set in recreation ten and supplied a tremendous maintain. He wanted one other at 5-6, but it surely didn’t occur! Alex created two set factors and seized the primary after the rival’s forehand error.
Joao Fonseca, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Thus, the Aussie launched a decider after an hour and 45 minutes and gained confidence. Joao made a recent begin and grabbed a break within the first recreation of the second set. He landed an ace a couple of minutes later for a maintain at love and a 2-0 benefit.
The Brazilian squandered three recreation factors within the fourth recreation, which might price him dearly! He performed a wild forehand on the second break level, dropping serve and bringing Alex again to the optimistic facet. The Aussie held at love in recreation 5 and made one other push on the return.
Alex de Minaur, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Fonseca missed a forehand in that sixth recreation, dropping serve at love and smashing his racquet. De Minaur closed the seventh recreation with a service winner and served for victory at 5-3. He defended beautifully within the fifth level and generated a match level.
The tenth seed seized it after the rival’s free forehand, roaring towards his field and shifting into the final 16.
