Joao Fonseca, the youngest player in the Next Gen ATP Finals field, delivered a standout performance in Jeddah, toppling top-seeded Arthur Fils 3-4(9), 4-2, 4-1, 1-4, 4-1 in an intense Blue Group clash.
The 18-year-old Brazilian showcased his aggressive playstyle, unleashing powerful forehands and maintaining composure during the high-pressure deuce points unique to the tournament’s No-Ad scoring format. “It was a tough match from the start,” said Fonseca. “I knew I had to stay aggressive, and that made the difference today.”
Despite dropping the first set in a tiebreak after missing two set points, Fonseca bounced back with commanding play. The victory marks his second win against Fils this year, adding to his triumph in Rio de Janeiro, which was also his first tour-level victory. With this win, Fonseca remains undefeated against the Frenchman in their Lexus ATP Head2Head encounters.
Fonseca’s next challenge in the Blue Group is against Learner Tien, an American left-hander he previously defeated in the 2023 US Open boys’ singles final.
Van Assche Keeps His Cool to Sink Shang
In the Red Group, Luca Van Assche kicked off his campaign with a composed 4-3(3), 2-4, 4-1, 4-3(5) win over Juncheng Shang. The 20-year-old Frenchman, a semi-finalist at last year’s event, capitalized on his experience and the No Let rule to edge past his Chinese opponent.
“Playing last year helped me adapt quickly to the unique rules,” said Van Assche. “Shang had some great moments but was inconsistent, and I focused on staying solid throughout.”
Shang, who recently won his first ATP title in Chengdu, will look to bounce back in his next match against Alex Michelsen or Nishesh Basavareddy.
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