Fonseca recovers in time to beat Ruud, sets Shelton showdown in Montreal
Montreal, Aug 8 (IANS) Joao Fonseca of Brazil recovered in time to overcome a slow start against Casper Ruud at the Canadian Open, earning a 7-6(6), 6-3 win in Montreal to advance to the last 16 for the third time at an ATP Masters 1000 event.
The Brazilian now joins fellow 19-year-old Rafael Jodar in the fourth round, marking the first time two teenagers have advanced to the last 16 at the event since Denis Shapovalov and Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2018, according to a report on the ATP Tour website.
Fonseca will next take on fifth seed and defending champion Ben Shelton in a rematch of their Munich quarterfinal won by the American earlier this season.
It will be an intriguing clash between two teenagers, neither of whom has lost a set in two victories this week.
The ATP report said that after allowing seven break points in his first three service games, according to ATP Stats, Fonseca surrendered a break to trail 2-4 on centre court. But the 19-year-old changed gears just in time to break back immediately and began to assert himself with his lethal baseline game.
“These are the matches that you’re most proud of, because you find a way to solve the problem,” Fonseca, who resorted to hitting aggressive second serves as first serves after his early struggles, was quoted as saying by the ATP. “Today I solved it… It’s a tough opponent, and I’m very proud of myself.”
A clutch, inside-out forehand winner started another mini-comeback from 3/5 in the first-set tie-break, with Fonseca clinching the opener on his second set point.
Turning on the style in the second set, Fonseca broke for 2-0 with a highlight-filled game that included a backhand overhead winner and two backhand groundstroke winners. He did not face a break point in the second set.
Fonseca improved to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Ruud, the former No. 2 player in the ATP Rankings. His first victory came two months ago at Roland Garros, with the result sending the Brazilian into his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Shelton reached the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Zizou Bergs of Belgium. Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante also reached the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Australian qualifier Alexei Popyrin. Also through was Jacob Mencek of Czechia, who prevailed over Terence Atmane of the Netherlands 7-5. 6-4 in another Round of 32 match.
–IANS
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