Fonseca follows in Sinner’s footsteps with Lexington Challenger title

Joao Fonseca etched his name in the record books Sunday when the 17-year-old became the youngest Brazilian to win an ATP Challenger Tour title.

The #NextGenATP star, who strengthened his claim on sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, did not drop a set en route to his Lexington Challenger triumph. Competing in his second final at that level, Fonseca showed no signs of nerves as he defeated Australian Li Tu 6-1, 6-4 to clinch the trophy. The teenager fell on his back in relief after securing the milestone victory.

"I’m really happy to win my first title. It means a lot to me," Fonseca told commentator Bryan Fenley. "One year after my first big title, which was the US Open juniors. I’m really, really happy. It was not easy. Really hard work back home. I really want to thank my coaches, my parents, they’ve supported me my whole life, not only incentivising me to play tennis, but also with being a good kid with maturity. It’s really nice.”

The Lexington Challenger has featured a trio of 17-year-old champions since 2019, including Jannik Sinner, current World No. 1, who won the hard-court event five years ago Sunday. China’s Shang Juncheng triumphed in 2022. Coincidentally, Fonseca is just one day younger than Sinner was when the Italian won in Lexington.

Lexington is where the future shines ?

2019 ? Jannik Sinner
2024 ? Joao Fonseca#OnTheRise | @atptour pic.twitter.com/WmB84yK0Pi

The 2023 US Open boys’ singles champion, who reached the quarter-finals at this year’s tour-level events in Rio de Janeiro and Bucharest, is set to climb 48 spots to World No. 166 in Monday's PIF ATP Rankings, marking his Top 200 debut. Fonseca is aiming for his maiden trip to the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, which runs from 18-22 December in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

"I try not to think so much about ranking, just try to improve week after week, day by day," Fonseca said. "I just try to improve my game and to win matches. I try to develop not only as a player, but also a person."

Fonseca is the seventh-youngest player from South America to claim a Challenger title and second-youngest from the continent to win a hard-court tournament at that level. Only Juan Martin del Potro was one month younger when he won a hard-court Challenger.

Youngest South American-born Players to win a Challenger title (since 1978)

In other ATP Challenger Tour action, August Holmgren captured his second title in three weeks by triumphing at the Porto Open in Portugal, where the Dane defeated sixth-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Moro Canas 7-6(3), 7-6(6) in the final.

August Holmgren celebrates winning the Porto Challenger. Credit: Lourenco A Rodrigues

A 2022 graduate of the University of San Diego who fell to Ben Shelton in that year’s NCAA singles championship match, Holmgren saved a match point in Saturday’s semi-finals against third seed Mikhail Kukushkin.

Following his title run, the 26-year-old is up to No. 167 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, one spot behind Fonseca, setting the Dane up for a new career-high Monday. Two weeks ago, Holmgren won the Pozoblanco Challenger, his first title at that level.

Belgian Raphael Collignon won his maiden Challenger title at the Platzmann Open in Luedenscheid, Germany. The 22-year-old rallied past top seed Botic van de Zandschulp 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the final.

Third seed Alexandre Muller triumphed at the San Marino Tennis Open, defeating Chun-Hsin Tseng 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3) in the title match. Muller, 27, is a three-time ATP Challenger Tour champion.

Alexandre Muller at the San Marino Challenger. Credit: Jack Chapman

Hugo Dellien collected his 12th Challenger title and second in the past month with a dominant run at the Svijany Open 2024 in Liberec, Czech Republic. The 31-year-old Bolivian dropped one set all week, overcoming Dane Elmer Moller 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the final.

Hugo Dellien wins the Liberec Challenger. Dominik Dusek

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