Fonseca Nets First Win of 2026 in Rio, Baez Upset

Joao Fonseca is up and running in Rio, and his fans are loving it.

The 19-year-old edged out compatriot Thiago Monteiro 7-6(1), 6-1 to set a second-round clash with Ignacio Buse of Peru, lashing 19 forehand winners and scraping through a tight opening set against the 31-year-old.

“Very happy with the way that I stayed mentally, with the way that I stayed positive during the whole match,” Fonseca said. “I didn’t have so many opportunities in the first set on his serve, so I needed to keep positive, and in the tiebreak just elevate my level.

“And also in the second set, with high intensity, the early break that gave me more confidence to keep going.”

Fonseca, who won his first two ATP matches in Rio in 2024 en route to the quarterfinals, had lost his previous two matches this season, after starting late due to a back injury.

“It’s amazing, it’s an honor, having my grandparents here and my friends as well, it’s just huge, having my first victory of the year after a tough few months it is super special and I’m very happy.”

In other action, Sebastian Baez had his 10-match winning streak snapped by Portugal’s Jaime Faria, 7-5, 6-1, while Italy’s Matteo Berrettini took out MTomas Barrios Vera 7-6(1), 7-5.

Main Draw Round of 32 Results

• Francisco Cerundolo (1) def. Mariano Navone (6-3, 6-4)
• Juan Manuel Cerundolo def. Luciano Darderi (2) (6-1, 3-6, 6-4)
• Joao Fonseca (3) def. Thiago Monteiro (Q) (7-6(1), 6-1)
• Jaime Faria (LL) def. Sebastian Baez (4) (7-5, 6-1)
• Roman Andres Burruchaga def. Camilo Ugo Carabelli (5) (6-3, 6-4)
• Dusan Lajovic (LL) def. Daniel Altmaier (7) (6-4, 7-6(7))
• Tomas Martin Etcheverry (8) def. Francisco Comesana (3-6, 6-3, 6-4)
• Matteo Berrettini def. Tomas Barrios Vera (LL) (7-6(1), 7-5)
• Damir Dzumhur def. Pedro Martinez (0-6, 7-6(5), 6-4)
• Alejandro Tabilo def. Emilio Nava (6-3, 6-3)
• Thiago Agustin Tirante def. Cristian Garin (7-5, 6-3)
• Vit Kopriva def. Gustavo Heide (WC) (6-2, 7-6(5))
• Yannick Hanfmann def. Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva (WC) (7-6(3), 6-4)
• Ignacio Buse def. Igor Marcondes (Q) (4-6, 7-5, 6-4)
• Francesco Passaro (LL) def. Dino Prizmic (Q) (6-3, 6-4)
• Vilius Gaubas (Q) def. Luis Miguel (WC) (6-4, 6-3)

Notable Round of 16 Matchups

• Francisco Cerundolo (1) vs. Thiago Agustin Tirante
• Alejandro Tabilo vs. Francesco Passaro
• Joao Fonseca (3) vs. Ignacio Buse
• Matteo Berrettini vs. Dusan Lajovic
• Tomas Martin Etcheverry (8) vs. Vilius Gaubas
• Damir Dzumhur vs. Jaime Faria
• Roman Andres Burruchaga vs. Vit Kopriva
• Yannick Hanfmann vs. Juan Manuel Cerundolo