Joao Fonseca edged last year’s finalist and top seed Arthur Fils with a five-set win 3-4 (9-11) 4-2 4-1 1-4 4-1 on his debut at the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah.
Fils arrived in Jeddah as the favourite after finishing runner-up to Hamad Medjedovic in last year’s edition of the Next Gen Finals.
Fonseca improved to 2-0 in his head-to-head matches against Fils after beating his French rival at the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro last February.
Both players went on serve en route to the tie-break. Fonseca went up a mini-break twice in the tie-break but Fils pulled back both times. Fils saved two set points before sealing the tie-break 10-9 with his third mini-break.
Fonseca eraned a break in the second game of the second set to open up a 3-0 lead. Fils broke back in the fifth game for 2-3. Fonseca broke again on his second set point in the sixth game to win the second set 4-2.
Fonseca converted his fourth break point in the fourth game before serving out the third set at love.
Fils converted his second break point in the fourth game and served out at 15 to win the fourth set 4-1.
Fonseca broke serve on his third break point in the fourth game and served out at love to win the fifth set 4-1. Fonseca secured his first top 20 win.
Fonseca will face Learner Tien on Thursday. The 18-year-old Brazilian player beat his US opponent in the US Open Junior final last year.
“It was a good match. I knew it was going to be hard from the first point. I also knew that the victory that I had against him in Rio would be part of this match. He also knows what I am capable of. I think in important moments, I played better. I went to the ball and played aggressive like I always play. I think that was the difference today”, said Fonseca.
