Montreal, IGA Stadium – João Fonseca delivered a stunning performance at the National Bank Open in Montreal. The 19-year-old Brazilian defeated Greek opponent Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 in the second round, underlining his status as one of the brightest talents on the ATP Tour. For Tsitsipas, who entered the tournament as a qualifier, it was a painful exit after an intense contest.
Tiebreak settles the opening set
The first set developed into an evenly matched battle. Both players dominated on serve, and with each breaking once, a tiebreak was needed to separate them. Fonseca held his nerve when it mattered most, winning the tiebreak comfortably 7-3 and making the most of a strong serving display — 66 percent of first serves landed in, of which he won 83 percent of points. Tsitsipas fired back with seven aces, but his four double faults and a first-serve percentage of just 56 percent reflected the difficulties he faced on serve throughout the set.
Dramatic finale in the second set
In the second set, Fonseca appeared to be on course for a straightforward victory when he served for the set at 5-4. But Tsitsipas seized the moment: he converted a break point to force a turnaround and level at 5-5. The Greek's joy was short-lived, however. Fonseca responded with a show of force, winning eight of the next nine points, securing the re-break and then serving out the match at 6-5 with authority. In the end, the Brazilian converted all of his break points — two from two — while Tsitsipas failed to take a single one of his opportunities.
A historic moment for Brazilian tennis
With this 7-6, 7-5 victory, Fonseca wrote a small piece of sporting history: he became the first Brazilian since the legendary Gustavo Kuerten to reach the third round of the Canadian ATP Masters 1000. It was also only the second meeting between the two players, and Fonseca improved his head-to-head record against Tsitsipas to 2-0 — he had previously beaten him in a Davis Cup rubber in Athens in September 2025. The statistics back up Fonseca's performance: the Brazilian won 70 percent of points on serve, and his return game also caught the eye, with a return games won rate of 25 percent. After the match, Fonseca stressed that mental strength had been the decisive factor, adding that he had matured considerably compared to the previous year. For Tsitsipas, who had battled through qualifying and the first round, the tournament ends at the second-round stage. Fonseca, meanwhile, awaits his next opponent in the third round as he chases vital points in his US Open build-up.
