{"id":27105,"date":"2025-02-19T03:07:25","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T03:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=27105"},"modified":"2025-02-19T03:07:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T03:07:25","slug":"joao-fonseca-mirrors-rafael-nadals-buenos-aires-milestone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=27105","title":{"rendered":"Joao Fonseca mirrors Rafael Nadal’s Buenos Aires milestone"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joao Fonseca lifted his first ATP trophy at the ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires. The young gun celebrated at 18 years, five months and 26 days, becoming the seventh-youngest ATP champion since 1990 and writing history.<\/p>\n

The one who wants to chase the Buenos Aires crown has to prepare to battle against the home players and the partisan Argentine crowd. Joao did a superb job by beating four home players in five duels. Thus, he joined Rafael Nadal in\u00a0a massive feat.<\/p>\n

Only five\u00a0players in the tournament’s history have won the title after four victories over the Argentines. Guillermo Coria defeated compatriots in 2003, and Juan Monaco did the same in 2009. Nicolas Almagro joined the list in 2011 before the king of clay stepped onto the scene.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 16, 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nadal embraced the South American Golden swing in February 2015 and conquered the Buenos Aires title over four home players. Rafa ousted Facundo Arguello and Federico Delbonis en route to the semi-final. Carlos Berlocq pushed the legend to the limits in the opener.<\/p>\n

\"Joao<\/picture>
Joao Fonseca, Buenos Aires 2025\u00a9 X – IEB+ Argentina Open<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Spaniard prevailed 9-7 in the tie break and dominated set number two for a place in the title clash. Rafa faced his good friend Juan Monaco and scored a 6-4, 6-1 win to lift a trophy. Ten years later, Joao Fonseca did the same over four home players.<\/p>\n

The young gun started the campaign against Tomas Martin Etcheverry and earned a 6-3, 6-3 win. The Brazilian provided four breaks to control the scoreboard and reach the last 16. Fonseca lost the opening set against Federico Coria.<\/p>\n

A teenager recovered his game and moved over the top with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 triumph, booking a place in the last eight. Joao got broken three times in the opener, with the home player hitting the zone. However, the youngster recovered and made a fresh start from the second set.<\/p>\n

\"Joao<\/picture>
Joao Fonseca, Buenos Aires 2025\u00a9 Stream screenshot<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The powerful hitter provided three breaks to control the result and move into the quarter-final. Fonseca faced the ultimate challenge against Mariano Navone. His third Argentine rival almost sent him out, with Navone creating two match points.<\/p>\n

However, the young gun survived and prevailed 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 after a notable comeback. Mariano grabbed two breaks in the first set and made a solid start. He led with breaks two times in the second set but failed to bring the win home.<\/p>\n

Joao battled back with three consecutive breaks, stealing the set 6-4 and extending his chances. The Argentine secured an early break and delivered four holds for 5-3. The Brazilian served to stay in the match in game nine and offered his rival two match points.<\/p>\n

\"Joao<\/picture>
Joao Fonseca, Buenos Aires 2025\u00a9 Stream screenshot<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fonseca kept his composure and denied them, holding and gaining an enormous boost. The young gun pulled the break back in game ten and locked the result at 5-5. He held at love a few minutes later for 6-5 and secured another break in game 12.<\/p>\n

Thus, the 18-year-old rattled off four games and remained on the title course. Joao faced Laslo Djere in the last four and earned a 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 victory. The Brazilian served for the win in game nine of the second set and cracked under pressure.<\/p>\n

He lost the ground before recovering his strokes in the decider, toppling Djere and reaching his first ATP final. The fourth Argentine stood between Fonseca and his first ATP trophy. The youngster defeated the local hero Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 7-6 in an hour and 45 minutes.<\/p>\n

\"Joao<\/picture>
Joao Fonseca, Buenos Aires 2025\u00a9 X – IEB+ Argentina Open<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He lifted a trophy and mirrored Rafael Nadal’s Buenos Aires feat. The youngster held his nerves and made a much-needed strong start. Joao grabbed two breaks in the first set for 6-4 and momentum. Fonseca served well in the second set and provided a break in game five.<\/p>\n

The youngster\u00a0served for the title at 5-4 and missed a chance to lift a trophy. Cerundolo broke back and extended his chances. However, the 18-year-old clinched another break in game 11 and served for the win for the second time.<\/p>\n

Francisco grabbed another break, locking the result at 6-6 and introducing a tie break. Fonseca attacked with his mighty strokes and clinched three mini-breaks. He forged five match points and cracked a forehand down the line winner on the first to emerge at the top and celebrate the title.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Joao Fonseca defeated four Argentines en route to his first ATP title<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27107,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tennis"],"yoast_head":"\nJoao Fonseca mirrors Rafael Nadal's Buenos Aires milestone - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=27105\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Joao Fonseca mirrors Rafael Nadal's Buenos Aires milestone - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Joao Fonseca defeated four Argentines en route to his first ATP title\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=27105\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-02-19T03:07:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/4-91.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=27105\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=27105\",\"name\":\"Joao Fonseca mirrors Rafael Nadal's Buenos Aires milestone - 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