Joao Fonseca, the 2023 US Open boys’ singles champion, added a new achievement to his fledgling professional resume this week when he became the first player born in 2006 to win an ATP Tour-level match.
The milestone came with home-court advantage: In his second career ATP main draw, the Brazilian defeated Arthur Fils, 6-0, 6-4, in Tuesday's first round at the Rio Open. Additionally, Fils’ No. 36 ranking allowed the 17-year-old to notch his first Top 40 win.
Fonseca, a wild card in Rio, broke the French 19-year-old four times in victory, and never faced a break point in 90 minutes on court. After a much closer second set, where the players traded games until Fonseca went up a break to lead 4-3, the Associated Press reported that Fonseca dropped to his knees in tears at the conclusion of the match, celebrating his accomplishment.
“This is where I belong. I want to be in these huge stadiums. Now it is all about focusing on the process,” Fonseca said.
His sentiments during the on-court interview signal a boost of confidence since his title run at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in September, when he said he had no words to describe what he was feeling, still struggling to process his win after he lifted the trophy.
"It couldn't be better than this to get my first win 10 minutes away from my house and with all my friends, all my family watching," Fonseca said, per the ATP website. "It's very special ... Obviously I was nervous, I was shaking, but I wanted so much to win, I made it.
"The last few months I was so focused on my progress and this is the result."
