The rise of #NextGenATP Brazilian Joao Fonseca continued on Thursday.
The 17-year-old defeated Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot 7-6(2), 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Tiriac Open in Bucharest. It is his second ATP Tour quarter-final after advancing to the last eight on home soil in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year.
“Today was a great fight. I knew the court will be be heavy because of the rain,” Fonseca said. “Yesterday we started with one game [because of rain] and he started breaking me. And I knew he was an experienced guy. He's double my age, so I needed to fight to the end and I'm very happy with this win.”
Career QF No.2! 🎱
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 18, 2024
Teenage sensation Joao Fonseca defeats Albot 7-6(2), 6-2#TiriacOpen pic.twitter.com/qtuH0tCGSK
Fonseca converted three of his four break points and won 70 per cent of his second-serve points according to Infosys ATP Stats. He will next face fourth seed Alejandro Tabilo, who ousted Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 6-4.
“I just want to thank [the tournament] for the wild card,” Fonseca said. “It means a lot for me and for my development and I'm so happy. Thank you very much.”
The teen began the week at a career-high World No. 276 and is up to No. 240 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He is sixth if the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah as he tries to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.
© Copyright 1994 - 2024 ATP Tour, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way or by any means (including photocopying, recording or storing it in any medium by electronic means), without the written permission of ATP Tour, Inc.. Terms & Conditions | Privacy | Modern Slavery Statement | Feedback | Cookies
