Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca surprised high seed and 2023 runner-up Arthur Fils with a five-set victory in his NextGen ATP Finals opener on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old Fonseca, the youngest participant within the eight-man area, made mild of his lowly 145 world rating to defeat his Twentieth-ranked French opponent 3-4 (9/11), 4-2, 4-1, 1-4, 4-1.
Fils arrived in Jeddah because the title favorite having been runner-up to Hamad Medjedovic in 2023, earlier than profitable two tour titles on the ATP Tour this season.
Nevertheless, Fonseca had defeated Fils at Rio in February for his maiden tour-level win.
Elsewhere within the Blue Group on Wednesday, 122nd-ranked Learner Tien of the US upset Czech world quantity 48 Jakub Mensik 4-3 (8/6), 4-3 (7/3), 2-4, 2-4, 4-3 (10/8).
Fonseca will face Tien in his subsequent match on Thursday having defeated the American within the closing of the US Open junior closing final yr.
“It was an excellent match. I knew it was going to be onerous from the primary level,” mentioned Fonseca, who secured his first High 20 win.
“I additionally knew that the victory that I had in opposition to him in Rio can be a part of this match. He additionally is aware of what I’m able to… I feel in essential moments, I performed higher. I went to the ball and performed aggressive like I at all times play. I feel that was the distinction right now.”
Tien secured his five-set win after saving a match level in opposition to Mensik, who clubbed 20 aces within the match.
“It was powerful enjoying a man that serves that nicely,” mentioned Tien.
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France’s Luca Van Assche, a semi-finalist in 2023, overcame Shang Juncheng of China 4-3 (7/3), 2-4, 4-1, 4-3 (7/5) within the Purple Group.
“I feel the expertise of final yr helped me loads right now, as a result of I already performed with these guidelines,” mentioned 128th-ranked Van Assche.
“For ‘Jerry’, it was his first time, so it’s troublesome to be ready to play units of 4 video games and all these guidelines.”
Shang, ranked at 50 on the earth, can nonetheless make the semi-finals with American pair Alex Michelsen and Nishesh Basavareddy additionally in his pool.
World quantity 41 Michelsen defeated Basavareddy in 4 units in his opener.