Fonseca finishes Paul 6-2, 6-3 to reach Indian Wells round of 16
They played once before, and it was a tight match; last spring in Madrid on the dirt, Tommy Paul prevailed in two tiebreak sets. A coveted spot in the round of sixteen was on the line in their first hardcourt encounter.
In the season’s first Masters 1000 event on the ATP Tour, Paul from the US, the 23rd seed, reached the penultimate round in the desert two years ago but lost to Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round last season.
Joao Fonseca, the 2024 NextGen ATP Finals champion, just missed being seeded with a current rank of #35. The nineteen-year-old from Brazil had a stellar season last year, winning two titles – a 500-level on indoor hard and a 250 on clay, culminating in a career-high rank of #24.
Having saved two match points in the previous round against former world #8 Karen Khachanov, the teen phenom welcomed the challenge of playing another former top-ten player and an American on home soil.
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Fonseca won the toss, elected to serve, and held to 30 with a 137mph serve out wide while Paul missed 4/8 first serves, donated three unforced errors, and dumped serve. The Brazilian struck another 137 mph serve this time down the middle and held easily to 15 to consolidate the break.
Paul soon faced 0-40 but with two outstanding winners and a well-struck serve up the tee, held for 1-3. Fonseca gifted two unforced errors but held to 30 with his first ace. Paul opened the sixth with a winning serve and volley play, but faced a break point when he netted a forehand. After three deuce points and two aces down the middle, the NJ native held for 2-4.
Fonseca made 5/6 first serves and held to 30 for 5-2. Paul, serving to stay in the set with new balls, opened with a spectacular backhand volley down the line, but with his first double fault and three errors off the ground, conceded it.
Fonseca left the court for a medical timeout following the conclusion of the opening set. He served first in the second and though he led 40-0, dropped serve following two consecutive errors and a winning volley from Paul.
The American opened with a winning serve and volley play, and though he donated another double fault, consolidated the break with another winning volley. Fonseca opened the third with a marvelous forehand down the middle and, with a monster serve out wide, got on the board.
Paul made 5/5 first serves but was broken following two consecutive forehand errors. Fonseca struck two consecutive winners, including his second ace, and consolidated the break with a love hold.
Paul opened the sixth with an incredible inside-in forehand winner and held for 3-3 with a winning crosscourt backhand volley. Fonseca exhibited his own skills at the net with a winning crosscourt forehand volley and held to 30 for 4-3.
Paul made 6/6 first serves, but it was all for naught as he dumped served following two additional errors off the ground. Fonseca served for the match with new balls and held to love to reach the fourth round.
Fonseca’s complete arsenal was on display during this third-round match. He competed with immense power and poise, finishing with twenty winners and twelve unforced errors. He won an astounding 73% of first and 65% of second serve points. He was equally effective when returning, winning 41% of first and 68% of second serve return points.
The only teenager in the top-100 will play former world #1 and current #2, Jannik Sinner, for a coveted spot in the final eight. This will be their first tour-level meeting. This fourth round match is certain to provide a Davis Cup like atmosphere with the passionate Brazilian contingent and Sinner’s devoted Carota Boys in attendance.
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