Joao Fonseca is a win away from securing his third Challenger crown at theArizona Tennis Classic in Phoenix. The 18-year-old faced Kei Nishokori in the semi-final and earned a rock-solid 6-3, 6-3 win in 67 minutes following a reliable performance on serve and return.
The young gun defended his second serve superbly and faced no break points. The veteran could not follow those numbers. Kei dropped 45% of the points in his games and suffered three breaks from five opportunities presented to his opponent.
Fonseca will compete in his fourth Challenger final, with Alexander Bublik standing between him and the trophy in Sunday's final. If he repeats this performance, Joao should be the favorite against the struggling Kazakh.
A teenager closed the opening game of the match with a forehand winner. He drew the rival's mistake in the third game for 2-1 before Nishikori provided a fine hold in the next one for 2-2. Fonseca held at 15 in the fifth game and made a push on the return in the next one.
Kei missed a backhand in the sixth game and faced three break points. Joao caused the rival's mistake, earning a break at 15 and forging a 4-2 advantage. The Brazilian moved 5-2 up with another comfortable hold and served for the opener in game nine.
Fonseca fired a service winner, holding at 15 and moving 6-3 up after 32 minutes. The young gun served well in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side. Nishikori stayed in touch in the opening four games.
The Japanese missed two game points in the fifth game and missed a forehand, dropping serve and falling a set and a break behind. Joao landed a drop shot winner in the sixth game, cementing the advantage and moving closer to the finish line.
The young gun fired an ace in the eighth game, holding at love and keeping the pressure on the other side. Kei served to stay in the match at 3-5 and faced three match points after Joao's deep return. The Brazilian drew the rival's mistake, earning a break at love and moving over the top in style.
