Tabilo Takes out Defending Champion Fonseca in Buenos Aires

Alejandro Tabilo spoiled Joao Fonseca’s first match as champion at the Argentina Open, the Chilean scoring a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win over the defending champion on the red clay with a break in the final game of the third set. 

28-year-old Tabilo moves on for a quarterfinal clash with seventh-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry, while Fonseca, who missed time early thisyear with a back injury, drops to 0-2 on the season. 

Etcheverry battled past Roman Andres Burruchaga, 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-4, in a three hour and 37-minute slugfest. 

33rd-ranked Fonseca had been scheduled to play at Brisbane at Adelaide, but didn’t rock up for either due to lower back concerns, and ended up falling to Elliot Spizzirri in his first-round match at the Australian Open. 

The Brazilian has not hit his stride yet, particularly on serve. He was broken four times by the southpaw and never looked to be in total command. Last year Fonseca burst onto the scene and won five consecutive matches, including a victory over Francisco Cerundolo in the final. 

In other action on Wednesday Vit Kopriva took out Matteo Berrettini, 6-4, 6-3.