Schwartzman plays final match, Fonseca battles back in Buenos Aires

Diego Schwartzman played the final match of his career Thursday afternoon at the IEB+ Argentina Open, bowing out of his farewell tournament with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat to Pedro Martinez. Competing in his native Buenos Aires, Schwartzman thrilled the home fans with a three-set upset of seventh seed Nicolas Jarry in the first round.

While the former No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings could not match those heroics on Thursday, the Argentine offered plenty of highlights for his fans to cheer — including a brilliant effort to save match point that spurred the crowd into song. Following the match, Schwartzman addressed the stadium court and enjoyed a tribute video on the big screen.

Earlier on Thursday, Brazilian #NextGenATP star Joao Fonseca knocked out a home favourite for the second time in as many days in Buenos Aires. After upsetting eighth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the opening round Wednesday, he earned a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory against lucky loser Federico Coria on Thursday at the ATP 250.

While the home fans were fully behind Coria, the popular Fonseca enjoyed plenty of support from the Brazilians and neutrals in what was an electric afternoon crowd in Argentina's capital.

Already the third-youngest man to win a match in tournament history, the 18-year-old is now the youngest quarter-finalist at the event since Richard Gasquet in 2004. Fonseca is through to his third tour-level quarter-final, taking full advantage of the Next Gen Accelerator spot — a programme that provides increased opportunities for players 20 and under to enter ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour events.

"For sure it was a tougher match," Fonseca said, comparing his opening two victories. "Yesterday I was feeling better on the court. Today I was not feeling very well, missing some balls, easy balls, a little bit more nervous. I'm very happy the way that I fought to the end, the mentality of staying positive and focusing on the good things, to make a change after the first set."

By reaching the quarters, Fonseca has moved up 11 places to No. 88 this week in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, setting himself up for a new career high.

Just call him Wow Fonseca 🤯

The 18-year-old outguns Coria 2-6 6-4 6-2 to earn a third ATP quarter-final spot@ArgentinaOpen | #ArgOpen2025 pic.twitter.com/suGpJA2xcv

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 13, 2025

In the pair's first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, Fonseca turned the tide by finding the range on his lethal forehand. A loose game from Coria early in the second set allowed the Brazilian to break at love for a 3-1 lead, and he saved the only two break points he faced for the rest of the match, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Brimming with confidence down the stretch, Fonseca ripped three forehands to hold for 4-2 and soon after sealed victory with his first ace of the match.

Fonseca will next meet second seed Argentina's Mariano Navone in the quarter-finals, where he is joined by another Brazilian in Thiago Seyboth Wild.

Navone earned the highest-ranked win of his career by upsetting World No. 12 Holger Rune 6-1, 7-6(2). The 23-year-old leaned on his heavy hitting and superb court coverage to earn revenge on the Dane, who last year in Madrid needed nearly three hours to overcome the Argentine.

Navone fended off all five break points he faced and played a squeaky-clean second-set tie-break to reach his fifth tour-level quarter-final and first on home soil. The No. 47 player in the PIF ATP Rankings took a deep return position and neutralised baseline rallies, baiting Rune into uncharacteristic errors. The second seed committed 39 unforced errors, compared to Navone's 13.