Two upcoming stars battled in the first round of the Miami Open. On Stadium, Joao Fonseca ousted fellow teenager Learnen Tien 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 23 minutes for his first victory at the second Masters 1000 event of the season.
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The Brazilian received a massive support from the stands, feeling like he performed in Brazil! He lost a tight opener before raising his level on serves in sets two and three, moving over the top with two breaks on his tally.
Fonseca collected seven points more than Tien. He outplayed his rival behind the second serve and kept everything under control in his games after defending three of four break points. The American played against 12 break points and did a fine job in saving nine.
However, he got broken three times and ended his run in the first round despite a solid resistance. Joao tamed his strokes nicely and fired 43 winners and 40 unforced errors. Learnen stood on a 31-35 ratio. The American hit more service winners and had the edge from the baseline.
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However, the 18-year-old attacked the net and outperformed his opponent 22-9. Tien had a slight lead in the shortest rallies up to four strokes. Fonseca erased it in the most advanced ones and took charge in the mid-range exchanges from five to eight shots.
The Brazilian kicked off the action with a break. However, he played a terrible forehand drive-volley in the fourth game and dropped serve. Joao served well in the remaining games, mounting the pressure on the other side.
Learnen fought hard and defended break points in games fiveand 11, surviving and reaching a tie break. Tien grabbed two early mini-breaks and moved 6-0 up with a deep return and the rival's mistake. The home player drew the opponent's error at 6-1, wrapping up the opener in 56 minutes.
Tien wasted game points in the fourth game of the second set and hit a costly double fault on a break point to fall 3-1 behind. Fonseca saved a break point in game five with a powerful serve and closed the game with a smash winner.
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The Brazilian served well in game seven for 5-2. Hewrapped up the set after passing a left-hander at the net two games later, clinching it 6-3 and forcing a decider after an hour and 36 minutes. Joao provided five comfortable holds in the final set, and Learnen could not follow that pace.
Tien saved a break point in the first game with a well-constructed attack and a smash winner. However, he wasted a game point at 1-1 and netted a routine forehand on a break point to propel his rival closer to the finish line.
Fonseca cemented the break with a smash winner in game four and landed a volley winner two games later for a hold at love and 4-2. The younger player painted an ace in the eighth game for a 5-3 advantage, moving closer to the top.
Joao served for the win in game ten and landed a volley winner for a match point. The American seized it with a service winner, sealing the deal in style and celebrating his first Miami Open victory at 18.
