Anna 
Teenager Joao Fonseca showcased his potential by defeating Francisco Cerundolo to win his first ATP Tour title at the Argentina Open.
The 18-year-old Brazilian triumphed 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) in front of a lively crowd in Buenos Aires. Despite being ranked 79 spots lower than Cerundolo, Fonseca played with maturity and aggression to overcome his opponent.
Fonseca becomes the fourth youngest man since 2000 to win an ATP singles title, joining the ranks of Kei Nishikori, Rafael Nadal, and Carlos Alcaraz. He is the 10th youngest champion in ATP history and the first player born in 2006 to secure a title.
“Even in Argentina, I have Brazilians cheering for me. That’s amazing,” Fonseca told the crowd after his victory. “What I’m living is just unbelievable. I want to thank my friends and sponsors for helping me achieve my dream of playing tennis.”
Fonseca had already made his mark by winning the Next Gen ATP Finals in late 2024, where he was the second-youngest champion after world number one Jannik Sinner. Sinner had also encouraged Fonseca to turn professional after a hitting session in 2023.
The Brazilian started the year with a major upset, beating ninth seed Andrey Rublev in the first round of the Australian Open. Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz has since tipped Fonseca as a future star.
In the final against Cerundolo, Fonseca came back from an early break deficit in the first set, then served for the match at 5-4 and 6-5 in the second. Though Cerundolo twice broke back, Fonseca dominated the tie-break, winning 7-1 with an angled forehand winner to seal the title.
Fonseca will rise to 68th in the world rankings and head to his home tournament, the Rio Open, which starts on Monday.