Fonseca, Nishikori set blockbuster SF showdown in Phoenix

Fan favourites Joao Fonseca and Kei Nishikori have set a must-watch semi-final at the Arizona Tennis Classic, an ATP Challenger Tour 175 event in Phoenix.

The 18-year-old Fonseca cruised into the last four Friday with a 6-4, 6-4 win against French lefty Hugo Gaston in chilly evening conditions, in which Fonseca won 79 per cent (30/38) of his first-serve points to advance after just 70 minutes.

"I played really good tennis today, really nice level, going for the shot aggressively," Fonseca said in his on-court interview. "Hugo is a very talented player, he can do everything. I did pretty well today, focussing on my serve. I'm happy with the win."

A special guest for tonight's Phoenix coin toss.

The one. The only. @AndreAgassi #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/aSz50XMnMA

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 15, 2025

At No. 80 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Fonseca is aiming for his third ATP Challenger Tour title this week. He opened this season with a title run at the Canberra Challenger, just two weeks removed from his triumph at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. The #NextGenATP star earned his first ATP Tour title last month in Buenos Aires.

Tour-veteran Nishikori overcame second-seed Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 after fending off eight of the 10 break points he faced. The 35-year-old earned his 10th win of the season across all levels. Nishikori finished the 2024 season by claiming his eighth Challenger trophy in Helsinki and now the former No. 4 is two wins from adding to that count.

"[I played] pretty good, It wasn't easy with the rain and cold, balls not flying," Nishikori said. "When it's cold, it's almost impossible to hit many winners. There were many, many good rallies. I think we both played well in the third set. I had to stay calm and he's not an easy opponent. I'm really happy to be in the semi-finals."

Top seed and two-time defending champion Nuno Borges extended his perfect Phoenix record to 12-0 by defeating University of Arizona standout Colton Smith 6-4, 6-4. Into the semi-finals, Borges will face Alexander Bublik. The Kazakhstani rallied past Corentin Moutet 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 after two hours, 25 minutes. 

Cap Cana
#NextGenATP Jakub Mensik fought off Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-3 in a late-night battle at the Republica Dominicana Open, Copa Cap Cana Ciudad Destino. Mensik defeated Etcheverry in the Indian Wells first round and matched that feat at the Challenger 175 event to reach the semi-finals.

Etcheverry converted his 10th set point to force a decider, but Mensik regrouped and continued his heavy hitting to outlast the second-seeded Argentine. World No. 57 Mensik won 80 per cent of his first-serve points and saved six of the seven break points he faced.

^{Jakub Mensik in action Friday at the Cap Cana Challenger. Credit: Mike Lawrence/ATP Challenger Tour}

“It’s always tough to play two weeks in a row against the same opponent. Tomas is a really great guy and he played good in the long rallies, so it was a really difficult match,” Mensik said.

“Today, as well as Indian Wells last week, they were both tough. Of course each tournament is different, tough conditions. I was trying to keep my energy for every single point, and hopefully I still have good energy for tomorrow."

Mensik will next meet Damir Dzumhur, who beat third seed Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(3), 7-6(5).

Top seed Alexandre Muller continued his red-hot form by ousting fellow Frenchman 7-6(6), 6-4. Muller won his first tour-level title in the opening week of the season in Hong Kong and reached his first ATP 500 final in Rio de Janeiro last month.

The World No. 44 could surpass his career-high No. 41 should he reach the final. Muller will face Aleksandar Kovacevic in the semi-finals after the American moved past Daniel Altmaier 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Second Challenger semifinal of 2025 ✅😃#ATPChallenger | @kova_aleks pic.twitter.com/chTV8SVGcN

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 14, 2025