By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday February 15, 2024
Joao Fonseca outlasted Laslo Djere in Buenos Aires to become the youngest ATP finalist from South America in 24 years.
Photo Source: TTV
Joao Fonseca took another giant step in his blossoming career on Saturday in Buenos Aires, defeating Laslo Djere 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-1 to reach his maiden ATP final.
It was a dramatic encounter, played in front of full-throated support for the rising 18-year-old in the Argentian capital, that saw Fonseca squander a pair of match points in the second set before coming through in a decider to become the 10th-youngest ATP finalist since the start of 2000.
Djere valiantly fought off a pair of match points while serving at 3-5 in the second set then engineered a complete turnaround as he won the final four games of the set. But Fonseca, who took a prolonged medical timeout for a lower back issue before Djere served at 1-2 in the final set, broke through in the next game and ended up reeling off the final five games to earn his biggest career win to date.
“Today was with my heart, today was with pain. I got through, and we are in the final – there’s one more to go, let’s go for it,” he said.
The explosive teen doubled up Djere in the winner category, 46 to 23, and managed 27 forehand winners against just 13 unforced errors off of that wing.
“Very special,” he said. “Today was really difficult against a really good player. We already knew how Laslo could play, he already won an ATP 500.”
Fonseca has become the youngest South American to reach an ATP final since 2001, and the first man born in 2006 or later to reach a title match on the ATP Tour. As for the support he got from the maybe green and gold flecked supporters in the crowd in Buenos Aires today, Fonseca said:
“That was for them.”
The 18-year-old, who is up to a career-high No.74 in the live rankings after today’s win, will face either Pedro Martinez or Francisco Cerundolo in Sunday’s final.