Shattering records: Joao Fonseca youngest Brazilian to reach an ATP Quarter-Final emulating Guga Kuerten, youngest overall since Alexander Zverev in 2014

Brazilian emerging talent, Joao Fonseca, secured a historic win against Christian Garin at the ATP 500 Rio Open, becoming the youngest player to reach the quarterfinals in an ATP tournament since Alexander Zverev at the 2014 Hamburg Open.

At just 17 years and 6 months old, Fonseca not only claimed this milestone but also became the youngest Brazilian to achieve such a feat, following in the footsteps of his compatriot Guga Kuerten, a former world No. 1, who reached his first quarterfinals at 19 years and 11 months old.

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Having previously showcased his potential by winning the 2023 US Open junior title, Fonseca is now making a significant impact on the ATP Tour. This victory ensures his entry into the top-350 rankings for the first time in his career, marking a remarkable climb of over 300 positions in just one week.

Joao Fonseca's performance on home soil has been nothing short of impeccable. In the first round, he defeated the 7th seed Arthur Fils convincingly with a score of 6-0, 6-4. The second round posed another challenge against clay specialist Garin, the 2020 Rio Open champion, but Fonseca claimed another resounding victory with a score of 6-4, 6-4, showcasing dominance over the Chilean throughout the match:

"I knew Cristian was an experienced guy, he knows how to face pressure and today I was a bit more tense at the start of the match. But I adapted quickly, kept focused and with the help of the crowd I managed to win," Fonseca said after the match.

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"I really needed the crowd's support to secure this win, nerves were becoming an issue. I can barely believe this, this week has already changed a lot in my life."

Fonseca will now face the 22-year-old Argentine Mariano Navone, who qualified for the tournament. Although Fonseca has previously defeated Navone at the Challenger level, this will be their first encounter in the main draw of an ATP tournament: "I know it’s going to be a very tough match, he’s an Argentinian, runs a lot and hits a lot and he's also in a great place right now."

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João Fonseca & Bia Haddad Maia once upon a time. 🥹 Brazil now has two superstars on its hands. 🇧🇷💛🇧🇷

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