Brilliant Fonseca dominates Van Assche to reach final of Next Gen Finals
The 18-year-old Brazilian will meet American Learner Tien in the final on Sunday
@ Tennis TV
Brazil’s Joao Fonseca continued his stunning form at the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah as he beat Luca van Assche 4-2, 4-2, 4-1 on Saturday to book his place in the final.
The 18-year-old, who came through the group stages with three wins out of three, dominated throughout with some huge hitting, especially on the forehand.,as he marched to a convincing victory. He hit 22 winners and he’ s just the third man to reach the final before the age of 19, following on from Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Fonseca will play American Learner Tien in the final, a repeat of their group stage clash and the 2023 US Open boys’ final, both won by the Brazilian.
“I’m playing a really high level, just very proud of myself, the way I’m being with my routine this week, so focused,” Fonseca said. “I hope I can go for the title. It says I am on the right track, it would be really nice.”
Frenchman Van Assche, in the semi-finals for the second year in a row, had a medical timeout for treatment to his right thigh but in truth, he was well beaten by Fonseca, who has climbed from outside the world’s top 700 at the start of the year to his present mark of 145.
The junior world No 1 in 2023, Fonseca has been the standout performer all week and he was never in danger of losing to Van Assche, even though the Frenchman was in the semi-finals for the second straight year.
He took the first set 3-2 and then, after Van Assche had treatment for what seemed to be a right thigh injury, took the second and broke early in the third to lead 2-0.
Van Assche dug deep to stay just one break down at 1-2, saving four break points, but Fonseca was in no mood to be stopped, easing to victory and a place in the final.
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