Joao Fonseca improved to 2-0 lifetime against Casper Ruud with a 7-6(6), 6-3 victory in round three of the National Bank Open on Friday night.
Fonseca, who also beat Ruud in the French Open fourth round this spring, came back from a break down in the first set and from 5-3 down in the ensuing tiebreaker before taking control and prevailing in one hour and 54 minutes. The 19-year-old struck five aces and saved six of seven break points. He did not face a break point in any of his last eight service games.
“I was pretty tight on my first serve today; I was not serving well (to begin the match),” Fonseca admitted. “I started serving second serves as first serves. I have to get back on court tomorrow and try to work on it. But those are the matches that you’re most proud of because you found a way to solve the problem — and today I solved it…. He put a lot of pressure (my serve). His forehand his huge, so it’s tough to play against him. It’s a tough opponent, so I’m very proud of myself.”
Next up for Fonseca is a Sunday showdown against Ben Shelton, who won their only previous meeting 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 this spring on the red clay of Munich. Shelton advanced with a 6-3, 6-3 rout of Zizou Bergs.
“Playing with the big guys this year was really important for my development,” said Fonseca, who lost competitive matches against Jannik Sinner (Indian Wells) and Carlos Alcaraz (Miami) during the Sunshine Double. “The match I played against him was, of course, on another surface. He was serving well there; he will serve well here. I think I’ll be prepared. I don’t need to say how good he is. I’m just trying to rest tomorrow and be prepared for Sunday.”
Jakub Mensik, Botic van de Zandschulp, Tallon Griekspoor, and Daniel Merida also advanced on Friday.
nice one, Fons