The Rio native João Fonseca claimed the biggest title of his still short professional tennis career. On this Sunday (26), the 19-year-old Brazilian won the Basel ATP 500, in Switzerland, by defeating Spaniard Alejandro Fokina 2 sets to 0, 6/3 and 6/4.
This was João’s fourth conquest this season. However, none of the previous titles carry the weight of an ATP 500, the third highest level of world circuit tournaments that awards 500 points to the champion. This type of competition is surpassed only by ATP 1000 events and Grand Slams (which award 2,000 points to the winner).
With the 500 points in Basel, João will make a significant leap in the next update of the ATP singles ranking, moving from 46th to 28th place. He started the season in 145th position.
In the final against world No. 18 Fokina, João was undaunted. He fired seven aces (when the opponent fails to return serve) and won every game in which he held serve.
He needed just one hour and 25 minutes to claim the biggest singles title for a Brazilian since 2001, when Santa Catarina native Gustavo Kuerten won the ATP 1000 in Cincinnati, United States. The Rio native, born in 2005, wasn’t even born yet.
João also won, in 2025, the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the Challengers (tournaments below ATP level) in Canberra, Australia, and Phoenix, United States. Starting this Monday (27), the Brazilian is already chasing a new title. He makes his debut at the Paris ATP 1000, in France, against Canadian Denis Shapovalov, one of the opponents he beat in Switzerland in the quarterfinals. The match is yet to be scheduled.
Source: Agência Brasil