INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca rallied from a break down within the third set to beat Britain’s Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 in his debut on the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday.
Fonseca cruised by way of the primary set earlier than Fearnley discovered his groove within the second to stage the match on a windy day within the California desert.
Fearnley raced out to a 3-1 lead within the third earlier than Fonseca stepped up his shotmaking to reel off the ultimate 5 video games. He completed the match in model with a blinding lunge volley on the internet on match level.
“It is a pleasure being right here on heart court docket at Indian Wells. It is a dream,” stated Fonseca, who acquired a wild-card entry into the event. “Individuals name it the fifth Grand Slam, and I can perceive why. It is actually a paradise. So I’m actually grateful. Immediately was fairly troublesome, very windy, and I acquired by way of so I am very completely happy.”
There was immense hype round 18-year-old Fonseca after he beat Andrey Rublev in straight units on the Australian Open. That victory was Fonseca’s first win over a top-10 opponent, and Fonseca received his first ATP Tour title in Buenos Aires final month.
Fonseca, ranked No. 80 on this planet, loved the vocal assist of the boisterous Brazilian followers available for the match on the ATP 1000 occasion.
“In every single place I’m going there are some Brazilians watching and cheering for me,” he stated.
Subsequent up for Fonseca is No. 13 seed Jack Draper.
American Jenson Brooksby overcame a nightmare begin and dug deep to defeat France’s Benjamin Bonzi 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 for his first ATP Tour win in two years.
Brooksby served a 13-month suspension for lacking three medicine checks and was hampered by damage after his ban ended.
He made his return to tennis at this 12 months’s Australian Open, the place he misplaced in straight units to compatriot Taylor Fritz within the first spherical.
Brooksby will subsequent face No. 17 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.
Reuters contributed to this report.