Fonseca saves 2 M.P., Cerundolo upsets Zverev in Buenos Aires

Joao Fonseca’s fighting spirit was on full display on Friday at the IEB+ Argentina Open in Buenos Aires.

The 18-year-old Brazilian dug deep for a remarkable 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 triumph over home favourite Mariano Navone to reach his first tour-level semi-final. Fonseca twice rallied from a break deficit in the second set, and saved two match points late in the third, before sealing an epic two-hour, 53-minute victory in front of a boisterous crowd in the Argentine capital.

“Those are the victories that we work for,” said Fonseca, who is the youngest semi-finalist on clay since Carlos Alcaraz won Umag in 2021. “I was not playing my best and I fought until the end. I’m tired… Since the beginning I was believing I could win, even if I wasn’t playing my best, but I fought and now I’m in the semi-finals. I feel amazing. It wasn’t easy against Mariano, but I’m just very happy without how I fought today.”

The 18-year-old Fonseca gained entry into the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires via the Next Gen Accelerator programme, which was expanded this year, allowing 20-and-under players ranked in the Top 250 eligibility for one ATP 250 main draw spot and two ATP 250 qualifying events this season.

Champion at last year's Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah, Fonseca is up 17 spots to a career high of No. 82 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, and could jump to No. 73 if he reaches the championship match in Buenos Aires.

Fonseca appeared down and out when facing two match points, serving at 3-5 in the final set, but he conjured some inspired shot-making - saving the second with a backhand winner down the line — to come out of the game unscathed. The 18-year-old maintained his momentum by reeling off the final four games to level his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Navone at 1-1, earning revenge for the Argentine’s three-set win over Fonseca in the Rio quarter-finals last year.

As the youngest Brazilian semi-finalist in the Open Era, Fonseca will face qualifier Laslo Djere, who marked his return to the Top 100 for the first time since August last year by defeating Thiago Seyboth Wild 7-6(3), 6-3 to reach his 20th ATP Tour semi-final. The Serbian, who is up to No. 98 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, saved both of the break points he faced en route to improving to 4-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Seyboth Wild knocked out the Argentine defending champion Facundo Diaz Acosta in the first round and sixth seed Sebastian Baez in the second, but couldn’t halt Djere, who outfoxed the Brazilian with an impressive 98-minute performance.

“It’s been an amazing week for me so far,” said Djere. “I’m really happy with my game and of course the result. Winning five matches so far will be a huge confidence boost, so I’m extremely happy and it means a lot.”

In other quarter-final action, Francisco Cerundolo delivered a gritty performance late Friday night, keeping Argentina’s hopes of a home champion alive. The fifth seed registered a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over top seed Alexander Zverev to storm into the semi-finals at the ATP 250 event.

Struggling early in windy conditions, Cerundolo fell behind a set and a break as the No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings appeared to seize control of the clash. But with a raucous Argentine crowd behind him, down 1-2, Cerundolo found his rhythm to break Zverev twice and won four consecutive games.

Following a brief rain delay, the Argentine served out the second set and carried his momentum into the decider. He broke the German early and held firm under pressure, saving three break points in a tense fifth game. From there, he continued to capitalise on an error-prone Zverev and motored to victory in two hours and 12 minutes. He saved five of seven break points he faced and won 71 per cent (62/87) of his first-serve points according to Infosys ATP Stats.

With the win, Cerundolo improved to 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. He will face Pedro Martinez in the semi-finals. Martinez advanced to the last four after Lorenzo Musetti withdrew from their quarter-final clash due to an injury.