Next Gen ATP Finals
Fonseca surprises a son in Jeddah
Tien did the same against Mensik in the other duel of the blue group
December 18, 2024
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Joao Fonseca during action on day one at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.
By ATP Editorial Board
Joao Fonseca has given another example of his brutal potential. Despite having been the last to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, the Brazilian defeated this Wednesday the first seed of the tournament, the Frenchman Arthur Fils, No. 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings and finalist of the event in 2023.
The 18-year-old right-hander won with sets of 3-4(9), 4-2, 4-1, 1-4, 4-1 in one hour and 50 minutes to start his first participation in this event on the right foot. which brings together the best tennis players under 20 years of age, and to add the biggest victory of their career, according to the ranking.
The world No. 145 had already defeated Fils, this year on the clay of Rio de Janeiro and when the Frenchman was world No. 36. Now he has defeated him again, on an indoor fast court and in the best moment of the European tennis player, who reached his second year in Jeddah with two titles in the season (Hamburg and Tokyo).
The match could even have been faster if the Brazilian had taken advantage of the two set points he had in the initial tie-break. But he never lowered his arms and continued to command with his power and explosiveness. Fils, winner of 37 ATP matches in 2024, could do little to stop one of the most potential talents today.
“It was a good game. I knew it was going to be difficult from the first point,” Fonseca said. “I also knew that the victory I got against him in Rio would be part of this match. He also knows what I’m capable of… I think in the important moments I played better. I went to the ball and played aggressively like I always do. I think “That was the difference today.”
Now at the top of the Blue Group, the Brazilian will face American left-hander Learner Tien on Thursday, whom he defeated in the US Open junior final in 2023.
Tien can also with Mensik
A trio of decisive tie-breaks secured Learner Tien’s victory in his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF on Wednesday.
The fifth seeded American showed all his level with his 4-3(6), 4-3(3), 2-4, 2-4, 4-3(8) victory over Jakub Mensik. In a battle between two debutants in Jeddah, Tien stood firm to prevent Mensik’s comeback by saving a match point to go 1-0 up in the Blue Group.
“It was tough playing against a guy who serves so well,” Tien said of Mensik, who hit 20 aces for the best serving performance in tournament history. However, the left-hander’s decisive style, which has guided him to three ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2024, made the difference in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. The 19-year-old was particularly efficient in the second set tie-break, during which he won five consecutive points to move up to 6/2. Tien, who exuded confidence, culminated his dominance in the tiebreaker with a pinpoint lob over Mensik.
Mensik, who before Wednesday had only lost one hard-court match against an opponent outside the Top 50 in 2024, was able to maintain the pace to ignite hopes of a comeback. Winning 84 percent of points after his first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats, Mensik found himself on match point but was outdone by another brave display from Tien in the tie-break to cross the finish line in two. hours and 15 minutes.
World No. 48 Mensik will now look for his first win when he faces Fils on Thursday.
