Joao Fonseca wished for a deep run at the home ATP 500 event in Rio. The young gun claimed his first ATP title last year but could not repeat anything similar in front of the home fans. Joao fell to Alexandre Muller 6-1, 7-6 in the first round.
The Frenchman outplayed the Brazilian in the first set and prevailed in the second to seal the deal and move over the top. Muller praised Fonseca and called him the future legend of our sport. He will also tell his kids about this victory!
Alexandre sealed the deal in an hour and 32 minutes after a rock-solid performance. The more experienced player lost 17 points in his games and defended both break points to mount the pressure on the other side.
The Frenchman dropped 17 points behind the initial shot and defended both break points. The Brazilian could not follow that pace after struggling in his games and spraying too many mistakes. The 18-year-old faced ten break points and gave serve away two times.
He fought well in set number two but failed to force a decider. Muller tamed his strokes nicely and welcomed over 30 unforced errors from the other side. Joao wasted a break chance in the first game of the match and got broken at love in game two after the rival's forehand winner.
The 18-year-old missed a forehand in the fourth game and fell 4-0 behind. The home star held in game six and created a break chance in the next one. He missed a forehand and allowed Muller to wrap up the opener 6-1 with a service winner after 28 minutes.
A teenager saved three break points in the first game of the second set and ended his downfall. Fonseca erased two more break points in the third game, giving everything to stay in touch. The home favorite faced another break point at 4-4.
He saved it with a forced error and extended his chances after a service winner. They served well in the next three games and introduced a tie break. Alexandre landed a return winner in the first point before spraying a forehand error at 2-0.
Fonseca hit a double fault at 2-2 and found himself 5-2 down. The home star responded with two backhand winner, climbing back to 4-5. Joao had a chance to erase the deficit in the tenth point but sprayed a backhand error and faced two match points.
Muller converted the first, sealing the deal in style and moving over the top.
"I feel sorry for the tournament and and fans. Joao is a superstar here, but I wanted to win. Joao will return and conquer the event for many years. One day I will tell my children I beat Joao Fonseca on the center court in Rio de Janeiro.
He will be a legend of the sport," Alexandre Muller said.
