Teenager Joao Fonseca showcased why he is among tennis’ most exciting prospects as he defeated Francisco Cerundolo to secure his maiden ATP Tour championship.
The 18-year-old Brazilian overcame Cerundolo 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) in front of an energetic Buenos Aires audience at the Argentina Open.
Ranked 99th globally, Fonseca sits 79 places lower than Cerundolo, yet displayed composure and assertiveness to triumph over his rival.
Fonseca is the fourth-youngest player since 2000 to claim an ATP singles crown—following in the footsteps of Kei Nishikori, Rafael Nadal, and Carlos Alcaraz.
He is the 10th-youngest title winner in ATP Tour history and the first player born in 2006 to claim a trophy.
“Even here in Argentina, there are Brazilians supporting me. That’s incredible,” Fonseca told the crowd afterward.
“What I’m experiencing is simply unreal. I want to express my gratitude to my friends and sponsors for helping me fulfill my dream—to simply play tennis.”
Fonseca won the Next Gen ATP Finals—a tournament showcasing the top male players aged 21 and under—at the end of 2024.
He was the second-youngest victor at the event after world number one Jannik Sinner, who triumphed in 2019, and who convinced Fonseca to go professional after a practice session in 2023.
Fonseca kicked off the year by stunning ninth seed Andrey Rublev in the Australian Open’s opening round, with Spain’s four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz predicting him as a future sensation.
Facing Cerundolo, he rebounded from an early break deficit in the first set to seize control and twice served for the victory at 5-4 and 6-5 in the second.
Although his seasoned rival broke back on both occasions, Fonseca dominated the tie-break, surrendering just one point before clinching the championship with a sharply angled forehand winner.
He will climb to 68th in the world rankings before heading to his home event, the Rio Open, which commences on Monday.
