Fonseca becomes youngest South American ATP finalist at Argentina Open

Joao Fonseca made history at the Argentina Open by becoming the youngest South American player to reach an ATP final since Juan Martín del Potro in 2007, and the youngest clay court finalist since Carlos Alcaraz in 2021, at just 18 years old. In a dramatic semifinal, Fonseca defeated Serbian Laslo Djere 7-6, 5-7, 6-1, showcasing his resilience after saving match points in earlier rounds. He expressed the significance of his achievement, stating it was a difficult match fought with 'heart' and 'pain'. Fonseca's victory came after a grueling quarterfinal against Mariano Navone, where he also saved match points. In the final, he will face fifth seed Francisco Cerúndolo, who has been dominant throughout the tournament. Regardless of the outcome, Fonseca has already secured a career-high ranking of World No. 74, with a chance to break into the top 70.