How good the younger gun Joao Fonseca is? Very superb, should you ask us! World no. 145 is having fun with a stellar week on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah. The 18-year-old Brazilian is 4 from 4 on his event debut, advancing into the title conflict in type.
The Brazilian confronted Luca Van Assche within the semi-final. Joao toppled Luca 4-2, 4-2, 4-1 in an hour, dominating on serve and return and crusing excessive. Fonseca gathered 25 factors greater than Van Assche.
A drive to be reckoned with 🥵
18-year-old Joao Fonseca is a finalist on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals!#NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/hMJdVYxfUf
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) December 21, 2024
The youthful participant dropped six factors behind the preliminary shot, going through no break factors and holding the stress on the opposite facet. Luca couldn’t sustain that tempo in his video games, shedding half of the factors and going through 14 break factors!
The Frenchman defended ten however gave serve away 4 occasions, ending his marketing campaign within the semi-final for the second straight yr in Jeddah. The Brazilian fired 22 winners and 9 unforced errors, taming his strokes beautifully.
Luca Van Assche & Joao Fonseca, Subsequent Gen ATP Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
He welcomed 19 unforced errors from his rival and took cost from the baseline. Joao took cost within the shortest, mid-range and most superior exchanges, sealing the deal very quickly. The Frenchman confronted three break factors within the third sport of the match, denying them with highly effective serves.
Nevertheless, he confronted extra points at 2-2, hitting a double fault on the second break level and falling behind. Fonseca served for the opener at 3-2. The Brazilian held at love with a service winner, wrapping up the opener in 19 minutes and gaining a lift.
They served nicely within the opening 4 video games of the second set. Van Assche missed a volley within the fifth sport and skilled issues. He netted a smash and acquired damaged, permitting his opponent to construct the benefit.
Joao Fonseca, Subsequent Gen ATP Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
Luca took a medical timeout on his proper hip forward of the sixth sport. Joao served for the set at 3-2 and held at love, constructing two units to like benefit after 42 minutes. Fonseca took cost within the first sport of the third set.
He cracked a forehand down the road winner for a break at 15, taking 14 of the earlier 16 factors and transferring nearer to the end line. Joao made one other push on the return at 2-0. Luca performed in opposition to 4 break factors, denying them and shutting the sport with a artful volley winner.
The Brazilian held at love within the fourth sport for 3-1 and landed a winner from the baseline within the subsequent one for one more break and a spot within the title conflict. Joao will face Learnen Tien for the second time this week. Is he the favourite?
He have to be, particularly after incomes two bagels in opposition to the American of their round-robin duel.
