From Wimbledon Loss to Montreal Victory: Fonseca’s Rapid Turnaround

After a third‑round defeat to Roman Safiullin at Wimbledon, Joao Fonseca entered the Montreal Masters with limited match play, having not competed for several weeks.

Defying expectations, Fonseca seized the opening set in a tight tiebreak and, despite a service slip at 5‑4 in the second set, rallied to win eight of the next nine points, securing a 7‑6(3), 7‑5 victory over former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The triumph marks a historic moment for Brazilian tennis, as Fonseca follows Gustavo Kuerten’s legacy by becoming the first Brazilian to reach the third round of the Canadian ATP Masters 1000. His ATP win‑loss record improves to 17‑12 for the season.

Looking ahead, Fonseca anticipates a clash with either 9th‑seed Casper Ruud or Juan Manuel Cerundolo. He highlighted his growth, saying the nerves on serve were a test of his maturity, and he felt “good” after delivering strong returns and applying pressure.