Olรฉ: Fonseca Puts Team โWorld on the Board
SAN โฃFRANCISCO,CA – Joao Fonseca delivered a commanding performance Friday night,securing โthe โคfirstโข victory for Team โWorld at โฃthe 2024 Laver Cup with a 6-4,6-4 win over Flavio โCobolli of Team europe. The 21-year-old Brazilian’s triumphโค at the Chase Center ignited a fervent crowd and shifted momentum in the early stages ofโค the competition.
Fonseca’s win is particularly significantโข as he becomes โthe youngest man to win a match in Laver Cup play, surpassing Canada’s Denis Shapovalov’s debut age by justโ one โขyear. This victory marks a crucial point for Team World, who are aiming to break Team Europe’s dominance in theโค competition. the Laver Cup pits six of the top players fromโ Europe against six of their counterparts from the rest of the world in aโข three-day team event.
Backed by a vocal contingent of Brazilian fans, Fonseca overcame an early break to seize controlโค 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,โค breaking Cobolli twice to establish a 3-1 and 4-2 lead, ultimately securing the match.
Theโค reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion,currently ranked No. 42,โค Fonseca claimed his first ATP title earlier thisโ 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,” โฃFonseca said,referencing hisโค birthdate being just 12โ days before Team World captain Andre Agassi’s retirement. “He said, ‘I retired in 2006.’ I said,โ ‘I was born in 2006.’ He said, ‘Thanks, man, thanks.’ I’m just thankful to him and [vice-captain] Pat โค [Rafter] for this week, helping me gain more experience.”
Team Worldโ captain Pat โฃRafter lauded Fonseca’s maturity and potential, stating, “Incredibly mature,โ very goodโฃ tennis brain, he’s calm, โคhe’s open to suggestionโฆYou can see โwhat 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.”
