Fonseca Reaches First 500 Semifinal in Basel

A sudden, unexpected injury retirement from Denis Shapovalov sent Brazil’s Joao Fonseca into his first 500-level semirinal on Basel, the 19-year-old rallying for a 3-6 6-3 4-1 RET victory on a difficult afternoon for Canadian men.

In Friday’s first semifinal Jaume Munar advanced as Felix Auger-Aliassime was forced to pull the plug with an injury after the first set, 6-3 RET.

Fonseca is the first Brazilian to reach a semifinal at the ATP 500 level since Tomaz Bellucci in 2011.

This year’s Buenos Aires champion improved to 9-9 lifetime against Top 30 players in his career and is up to a career-high No.38 in the live rankings with the win. He will face Munar for a spot in the final on Saturday.

At 19 years and two months, Fonseca is the eighth youngest semifinalist in tournament history.