Fonseca Nets get first win of 2026 in Rio, Baez distraught – Tennis Now

Joao Fonseca has established himself in Rio de Janeiro and his fans are loving it.

The 19-year-old beat compatriot Thiago Monteiro 7-6(1), 6-1 to set up a second-round match against Peru’s Ignacio Busse, hitting 19 forehand winners and struggling to advance in a fiery start against the 31-year-old.

“I’m really pleased with the mental state and positive attitude I maintained throughout the match,” Fonseca said. “I didn’t have that many chances on his serve in the first set, so I needed to stay positive and improve my game in the tie-break.

“The intensity of the second set was also very high, and breaking serve early gave me more confidence to keep going.”

Fonseca won his first two ATP matches in Rio de Janeiro 2024 and reached the quarterfinals, but lost the first two matches of the season due to a back injury.

“It’s awesome, it’s an honor, my grandparents are here and my friends are here, it’s awesome and to get my first win of the year after a tough couple of months, it’s super special and I’m super happy.”

In other matches, Sebastian Baez’s ten-game winning streak was ended by Portugal’s Jaime Faria 7-5, 6-1, while Italian Matteo Berrettini defeated MTomas Barrios Vera 7-6(1), 7-5.

Main draw 32 round results

• Francisco Cerundolo(1) definition. Mariano Navone (6-3, 6-4)
• Juan Manuel Cerundolo definition. Luciano Dadelli(2) (6-1, 3-6, 6-4)
• Joao Fonseca(3) definition. Thiago Monteiro(Q) (7-6(1), 6-1)
• Jaime Faria(LL) definition. Sebastian Baez(4) (7-5, 6-1)
• Roman Andres Buruchaga definition. Camilo Hugo Carabelli(5) (6-3, 6-4)
• Dusan Lajovich(LL) definition. Daniel Altmaier(7) (6-4, 7-6(7))
• Thomas Martin Etcheverry(8) definition. Francisco Comesana (3-6, 6-3, 6-4)
• Matteo Berrettini definition. Tomas Barrios Vera(LL) (7-6(1), 7-5)
• Damir Zumhur definition. Pedro Martinez (0-6, 7-6(5), 6-4)
• Alejandro Tabilo definition. Emilio Nava (6-3, 6-3)
• Thiago Augustin Tirant definition. Christian Garin (7-5, 6-3)
• Vit Kopriva definition. Gustavo Hyde(WC) (6-2, 7-6(5))
• Yannick Hanfman definition. Joao Lucas Reis da Silva (WC) (7-6(3), 6-4)
• Ignacio Booth definition. Igor Marcondez(Q) (4-6, 7-5, 6-4)
• Francisco Passaro(LL) definition. Dino Przymic(Q) (6-3, 6-4)
• Velius Gobas(Q) definition. Luis Miguel (WC) (6-4, 6-3)

Matches worth watching in the Round of 16

• Francisco Cerundolo(1) vs. Thiago Augustin Tirant
• Alejandro Tabilo VS Francisco Passaro
• Joao Fonseca(3) vs. Ignacio Busi
• Matteo Berrettini VS Dusan Lajovic
• Thomas Martin Echeverri(8) vs. Vilius Gaubas
• Damir Zumkh vs Jaime Faria
• Roman Andres Buruchaga VS Vit Kopriva
• Yannick Hanfman vs Juan Manuel Cerundolo