World no. 80 Joao Fonseca is through to theArizona Tennis Classic semi-final. The young Brazilian faced Hugo Gaston in the Phoenix Challenger quarter-final and scored a 6-4, 6-4 victory in 70 minutes. Fonseca and Gaston met the legend ahead of their duel!
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The eight-time Major champion Andre Agassi, who retired a couple of weeks after the Brazilian was born, was there during the coin toss.Joao claimed 15 points more than Hugo and outplayed him on serve and return.
A teenager defended two of three break points, losing serve once in the opener after buildingthe advantage. Heturned 44% of the return points into three breaks from four chances.
The opening set was fast and fluid, with no deuces in ten games and 31 minutes required to complete them. Joao held with a smash winner in the second game and made a push on the return in the next one. The young gun landed a forehand winner and created two break chances.
He attacked on the first and drew the rival's forehand mistake to secure a break and forge a 2-1 advantage. Fonseca cemented the break with a service winner in the fourth game and stepped in on the return in the next one.
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The Brazilian attacked and secured a a break at love with a forced error, extending the lead to 4-1. Gaston pulled one break back in game six following the rival's drop shot error. Hugo held at 15 in game seven and reduced the gap to 4-3.
Joao secured the eighth game with a service winner and served for the opener at 5-4. He landed a smash winner for two set points and fired a powerful serve on the first, clinching the opener 6-4 in 31 minutes. A teenager held at love in the second game of the second set.
A left-hander missed a forehand in the third game, suffering a break at 15 and falling a set and a breakbehind. Fonseca missed a forehand in the fourth game and offered his rival a break chance. He saved it with a forehand down the line winner and hit a service winner for 3-1.
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The young gun landed an ace in the sixth game and moved 4-2 in front. He held at 30 in the eighth game and extended the gap to 5-3. Joao served for the win at 5-4 and missed a forehand on a match point. He created the second with a fine attack.
The 18-year-old drew the rival's mistake to seal the deal and arrange the semi-final clash against Kei Nishikori.
