Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca pulled off a stunning upset in the opening round of the 2024 NextGen ATP Finals, defeating top seed and 2023 runner-up Arthur Fils in a thrilling five-set match on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old Joao Fonseca, ranked 145th in the world, triumphed 3-4 (9/11), 4-2, 4-1, 1-4, 4-1 over the 20th-ranked Frenchman, sending shockwaves through the tournament. Despite his lower ranking, Fonseca displayed maturity and composure throughout, securing his first Top 20 victory.
Fils had entered the tournament in Jeddah as the title favourite, having reached the final in 2023 before winning two ATP Tour titles this season. However, Fonseca proved to be a formidable opponent, recalling their previous meeting in February, when he defeated Fils in Rio for his first-ever tour-level win.
“This was a tough match,” Fonseca said after his victory. “I knew from the first point it wouldn’t be easy. I was confident because of the win I had against him in Rio. He knows what I’m capable of, and I believe I played better in the important moments. I stayed aggressive, and that made the difference.”
In another thrilling match in the Blue Group, 122nd-ranked Learner Tien of the United States claimed a hard-fought five-set victory over Czech world number 48 Jakub Mensik. Tien triumphed 4-3 (8/6), 4-3 (7/3), 2-4, 2-4, 4-3 (10/8) after saving a match point.
“It was tough playing against a guy who serves that well,” said Tien, who will face Fonseca next after their junior US Open final clash in 2023.
In the Red Group, France’s Luca Van Assche, a semi-finalist in 2023, overcame China’s Shang Juncheng 4-3 (7/3), 2-4, 4-1, 4-3 (7/5). Van Assche, ranked 128th, credited his previous experience in the NextGen Finals with helping him navigate the unique rules of the competition.
“I think the experience from last year helped a lot,” said Van Assche. “For Shang, it was his first time, so it’s tough to adjust to the four-game sets and the different rules.”
Shang, ranked 50th in the world, remains in contention for the semi-finals, with American duo Alex Michelsen and Nishesh Basavareddy also in his pool. Michelsen, ranked 41st, defeated Basavareddy in four sets in his opener.
The 2024 NextGen ATP Finals continues to deliver exciting and unpredictable tennis as the next generation of stars look to make their mark on the sport.
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