Joao Fonseca conquered Basel during his first visit to Roger Federer's town! The young gun faced Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the title clash and scored a 6-3,6-4 victory in an hour and 25 minutes.
Thus, a teenager lifted his second ATP title of the season and the first at the ATP 500 level, passing nearly 20 rivals and entering the top-30. Joao became the seventh-youngest ATP 500 champion since 1990.
He is also the fourth-youngest player to achieve that since 2000, joining Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz on that list at 19 years and two months.
The Brazilian served at 79% and denied three of four break points. The Spaniard could not follow that pace after giving away 46% of the points in his games. Alejandro faced 13 break points and experienced three breaks to finish as the runner-up.
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Joao had the upper hand in shortest and mid-range rallies. He fired up his forehand and landed 29 winners and 19 unforced errors. He bested Davidovich Fokina from the baseline and at the net for a career-high moment.
The 19-year-old grabbed a break in the second game of the duel after his rival's backhand error. Fonseca saved two break points in the next one with winners and held for 3-0.
Davidovich Fokina saved a break point in the fourth game with a backhand winner and pulled the break back in the next one after Joao's careless forehand. Instead of building on that, the Spaniard experienced another break in the sixth game to fall 4-2 behind.
The Brazilian closed the seventh game after a deuce and generated two set points on the return at 5-2. Alejandro denied them and held to reduce the deficit and prolong the battle.
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A teenager served for the opener at 5-3 and landed a forehand winner on a set point to bring the first part of the duel home in 40 minutes. Davidovich Fokina sprayed a forehand error at the beginning of the second set and lost serve.
Fonseca provided two fine holds and moved 3-1 in front. Facing the exit door, the better-ranked player experienced two more break points in the fifth game. He saved them and stayed within one break deficit.
The young gun left them behind and fired a service winner in game six for 4-2. The Spaniard played against another break point in the seventh game, smashing his racquet in frustration.
He saved it with an ace and held with an unreturned serve for 3-4. Joao kept his composure and secured a hold at 15 in game eight for a hold and 5-3. Alejandro missed a backhand in game nine and offered his rival a match point.
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He saved it with a service winner and held to prolong the battle. However, Fonseca held at love at 5-4 to wrap up a perfect week and lift his first ATP 500 trophy at 19.
