Olé: Fonseca Puts Team World on the Board
SAN FRANCISCO,CA – Joao Fonseca delivered a commanding performance Friday night,securing the first victory for Team World at the 2024 Laver Cup with a 6-4,6-4 win over Flavio Cobolli of Team europe. The 21-year-old Brazilian’s triumph at the Chase Center ignited a fervent crowd and shifted momentum in the early stages of the competition.
Fonseca’s win is particularly significant as he becomes the youngest man to win a match in Laver Cup play, surpassing Canada’s Denis Shapovalov’s debut age by just one year. This victory marks a crucial point for Team World, who are aiming to break Team Europe’s dominance in the competition. the Laver Cup pits six of the top players from Europe against six of their counterparts from the rest of the world in a three-day team event.
Backed by a vocal contingent of Brazilian fans, Fonseca overcame an early break to seize control of the opening set, capitalizing on a netted backhand approach from Cobolli at 4-5, 30-40. He continued his strong play into the second set, breaking Cobolli twice to establish a 3-1 and 4-2 lead, ultimately securing the match.
The reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion,currently ranked No. 42, Fonseca claimed his first ATP title earlier this year in Buenos Aires, becoming the youngest South American tour-level champion as 1987 and the youngest Brazilian champion in the Open Era.
“We actually joke about it,” Fonseca said,referencing his birthdate being just 12 days before Team World captain Andre Agassi’s retirement. “He said, ‘I retired in 2006.’ I said, ‘I was born in 2006.’ He said, ‘Thanks, man, thanks.’ I’m just thankful to him and [vice-captain] Pat [Rafter] for this week, helping me gain more experience.”
Team World captain Pat Rafter lauded Fonseca’s maturity and potential, stating, “Incredibly mature, very good tennis brain, he’s calm, he’s open to suggestion…You can see what he’ll need to take forward. Next year this time, he’ll be a great player.In two years’ time, I think he’ll be extraordinary because he has the ability to learn.”
