Fonseca surpasses Davidovic Fokina to become youngest Basel champion since 1989 – Tennis Now
Joao Fonseca’s rise continues in Basel on Sunday. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s frustration also continues.
The Brazilian won his second title of 2025 and held off No. 18 Davidovich Fokina’s first title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory that underlined all the promise the 19-year-old had in front of a sold-out crowd at the legendary St. Jakobshalle.
“It’s crazy,” Fonseca said. “I just want to thank my family and coaches for helping me achieve such an amazing feat.”
Accompanied by her parents and other family members, Fonseca showed a stable and outstanding performance, always taking the initiative during the 85-minute battle and never letting her opponent gain the upper hand.
“My parents had just come from Brazil and they were actually going to Paris but they changed their flight and arrived an hour before the game with my uncles and it was great to have them here competing for the most important title of my career.
“They’re the ones who believe in me.”
Fonseca’s outstanding performance came to the chagrin of Davidovich Fokina, who lost 0-5 in the final and 0-4 in 2025. The 26-year-old was bidding to become a ninth Tour champion but was outplayed by the 46th-ranked youngster throughout.
Fonseca also won the title on clay in Buenos Aires in February, becoming the first Brazilian to win the ATP 500 title and the first since Gustavo Kuerten in 2001 to win the ATP title above 250.
With the victory, Fonseca became the youngest Basel champion in 36 years since Jim Courier defeated Stefan Edberg in the 1989 final. He will rise to a career-high No. 30 in Monday’s ATP rankings.
He hit 9 of 20 forehand winners for Davidovich Fokina, hit 75% of his first serve hits, and saved three of the four break points he faced.
Davidovich Fokina’s only break of serve in the fifth game of the first set briefly allowed him to get back on serve, but he was quickly broken and Fonseca won three of the next four games to seal the first set.
Success came quickly in the second set, too, with Fonseca breaking in the first set but the Spaniard saved break points in the fifth and seventh games to stay in touch. Davidovich Fokina saved a match point on serve at 3-5 to extend the match, but Fonseca calmly stepped to the line to defend his title with love.
“You played incredible tennis, you have a bright future and you will definitely be the next Noel to beat Carlos and Yannick – congratulations on this match and good luck next week,” Davidovic said at the ceremony.
Despite the crushing defeat, the Spaniards were smiling.
“It’s been a very good year, I can’t complain [about] “Four finals, but the final always breaks my heart,” he said. “I think I’m improving and I think we’ll have a chance to be champions again.”
