Eighteen-year-old Joao Fonseca electrified the tennis world Sunday by defeating Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 7-6(1) to claim his maiden ATP Tour title at the Argentina Open. The Rio native, who stunned ninth-ranked Andrey Rublev at January's Australian Open, now becomes the youngest South American ATP champion since 1990 and the first player born in 2006 or later to lift a trophy on the elite circuit.
The Buenos Aires final saw fiery chants echo across the clay courts as local fans transformed the stadium into a soccer-like rivalry atmosphere. \"This was just an unbelievable week,\" said Fonseca, whose 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals victory set the stage for his breakthrough. \"My dream is to play tennis – and I'm living it.\"
Tennis royalty took notice of the phenom's rise. Carlos Alcaraz tweeted \"Impressive, Joao,\" while Andy Murray teased future showdowns: \"Can't wait for the first Fonseca vs Alcaraz match.\" Boris Becker declared, \"The sky is the limit\" for the teen set to compete next at Brazil's ATP 500 Rio Open.
Ranked 158th globally, Fonseca faces France's Alexandre Muller (No. 58) on Tuesday as he aims to build momentum before Roland Garros. With his explosive forehand and viral charisma, analysts predict Fonseca could redefine men's tennis' new generation.
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Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca wins his first-ever ATP Tour title
cgtn.com
