Miami: Joao Fonseca tops Learnen Tien in a teenage thriller!

Two upcoming stars battled within the first spherical of the Miami Open. On Stadium, Joao Fonseca ousted fellow teenager Learnen Tien 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 23 minutes for his first victory on the second Masters 1000 occasion of the season.

The Brazilian acquired an enormous help from the stands, feeling like he carried out in Brazil! He misplaced a decent opener earlier than elevating his stage on serves in units two and three, transferring excessive with two breaks on his tally.

Go loopy Miami 😱

The second Joao Fonseca defeated Learner Tien for his first #MiamiOpen victory pic.twitter.com/A2xFAU0d36

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 21, 2025

Fonseca collected seven factors greater than Tien. He outplayed his rival behind the second serve and stored all the things below management in his video games after defending three of 4 break factors. The American performed towards 12 break factors and did a fantastic job in saving 9. 

Nevertheless, he bought damaged 3 times and ended his run within the first spherical regardless of a strong resistance. Joao tamed his strokes properly and fired 43 winners and 40 unforced errors. Learnen stood on a 31-35 ratio. The American hit extra service winners and had the sting from the baseline. 

Joao Fonseca & Learnen Tien, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot

Nevertheless, the 18-year-old attacked the online and outperformed his opponent 22-9. Tien had a slight lead within the shortest rallies as much as 4 strokes. Fonseca erased it in essentially the most superior ones and took cost within the mid-range exchanges from 5 to eight photographs.

The Brazilian kicked off the motion with a break. Nevertheless, he performed a horrible forehand drive-volley within the fourth sport and dropped serve. Joao served nicely within the remaining video games, mounting the strain on the opposite aspect. 

Joao Fonseca, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot

Learnen fought exhausting and defended break factors in video games 5 and 11, surviving and reaching a tie break. Tien grabbed two early mini-breaks and moved 6-0 up with a deep return and the rival’s mistake. The house participant drew the opponent’s error at 6-1, wrapping up the opener in 56 minutes. 

Tien wasted sport factors within the fourth sport of the second set and hit a expensive double fault on a break level to fall 3-1 behind. Fonseca saved a break level in sport 5 with a robust serve and closed the sport with a smash winner. 

Learnen Tien, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot

The Brazilian served nicely in sport seven for 5-2. He wrapped up the set after passing a left-hander on the web two video games later, clinching it 6-3 and forcing a decider after an hour and 36 minutes. Joao offered 5 snug holds within the ultimate set, and Learnen couldn’t comply with that tempo. 

Tien saved a break level within the first sport with a well-constructed assault and a smash winner. Nevertheless, he wasted a sport level at 1-1 and netted a routine forehand on a break level to propel his rival nearer to the end line. 

Joao Fonseca, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot

Fonseca cemented the break with a smash winner in sport 4 and landed a volley winner two video games later for a maintain at love and 4-2. The youthful participant painted an ace within the eighth sport for a 5-3 benefit, transferring nearer to the highest. 

Joao served for the win in sport ten and landed a volley winner for a match level. The American seized it with a service winner, sealing the deal in fashion and celebrating his first Miami Open victory at 18.