“Living a dream”: Fonseca second youngest to reach ATP 500 quarter-finals at home event

Brazilian wildcard Joao Fonseca continued his incredible run by advancing to the quarter-finals of the Rio Open at the Jockey Club Brasileiro in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.

Fonseca, the junior world No 1 at the end of the 2023 season, defeated Chilean Cristian Garin 6-4, 6-4 to continue his unexpected run at his home event.

He will next play Argentinian qualifier Mariano Navone. The win made Fonseca the second youngest player to reach the last eight at an ATP 500 Series event.

“I’m really happy with my path up until now but I want more.”

“I’m living a dream and I haven’t realised what I’ve achieved yet,” said Fonseca as quoted by the ATP Tour website. “But I wanna keep dreaming, I’m really happy with my path up until now but I want more. I’m happy with the way I’ve been playing and how I grew this past year not only technically but also mentally and physically. I can’t thank my team, my family and friends enough.”

“I knew Cristian was an experienced guy, he knows how to face pressure and today I was a bit more tense at the start of the match. But I adapted quickly, kept focused and with the help of the crowd I managed to win.”

The Brazilian had scored his first ATP level maind raw win over Frenchman Arthur Fils, the No 7 seed (6-0, 6-4) in the previous round.

Earlier in the week, Garin, ranked No 88, won against Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena (2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3).

Rio de Janeiro ATP 500, other second-round results (Jockey Club Brasileiro, clay, USD 2,100,230):

• Mariano Navone beat Yannick Hanfmann: 6-1, 6-2
• Thiago Monteiro (WC) beat Felipe Meligeni Alves (Q): 7-5, 6-3
• Sebastian Baez (5) beat Facundo Diaz Acosta: 7-6 (1), 6-3
• Cameron Norrie (2) beat Tomas Barrios Vera: 6-1, 6-1
• Thiago Seyboth Wild beat Jaume Munar: 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
• Dusan Lajovic beat Laslo Djere (6): 6-2, 7-5
• Francisco Cerundolo (4) beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas: 6-2, 6-1

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