Joao Fonseca is enjoying a memorable debut at the ATP 500 event in Basel. A teenager ousted Jaume Munar 7-6, 7-5 in an hour and 54 minutes for a place in his second ATP final.
Thus, the young Brazilian became the youngest finalist since Goran Ivanisevic in 1990, besting the hometown hero and his idol, Roger Federer. Fonseca collected 11 points more than Munar in a high-quality contest.
Joao outplayed his rival behind the first and second serve. He lost serve once from the only chance offered to Jaume and provided two breaks from three chances to emerge at the top.
A teenager unleashed fury from his forehand and landed 40 winners and 18 unforced errors. Munar also played well and finished the duel with 32 direct points and 22 mistakes.
Nothing separated them in the mid-range and most extended rallies. Fonseca stepped in and dominated the quickest ones to emerge at the top in straight sets and arrange the title clash with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Joao provided six comfortable holds in the opening set, and Jaume followed that pace after surviving a couple of deuces. The young gun drew the rival's mistake in the 12th game and introduced a tie break.
The servers maintained their fine run and claimed the opening four points for 4-4. Fonseca landed a forehand winner in the ninth point for a mini-break and claimed an extended rally for two set points.
He seized the first with a smash winner, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 61 minutes. The Brazilian played his only loose service game at 1-1 in the second set, netting a forehand and suffering a break.
Munar held at 30 in the next one to open a 3-1 gap. Joao closed the fifth game after deuces and remained in touch. A teenager secured the seventh game after a deuce and made a push on the return in the next one.
Joao cracked a forehand down the line winner for a break at 15 and 4-4. They served well in the next three games, and Jaume needed another fine hold at 5-6 to prolong the battle.
Fonseca extended the game with a forehand down the line winner and claimed a thrilling point for a match point. He seized it after Munar's backhand error, booking a place in his first ATP 500 final at 19.
