Alejandro Tabilo spoiled Joao Fonseca’s first match as Argentina Open champion as the Chilean broke serve in the final game of the third set to defeat the defending champion 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 on clay.
Tabilo, 28, will face seventh-seeded Tomas Martin Echeverri in the quarterfinals, while Fonseca fell to 0-2 on the season after missing early in the year with a back injury.
In a fierce battle that lasted 3 hours and 37 minutes, Echeverri defeated Roman Andres Burruchaga 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-4.
Fonseca, ranked 33rd, was originally scheduled to compete in Brisbane and Adelaide, but due to waist problems, he did not play in both games and eventually lost to Elliott Spiceri in the first round of the Australian Open.
The Brazilian has yet to hit his stride, especially on serve. He was stopped four times by southpaws and never looked completely in control. Fonseca came to prominence last year, winning five straight matches, including defeating Francisco Serendolo in the final.
In other action on Wednesday, Vit Kopriva defeated Matteo Berrettini 6-4, 6-3.
