Alexander Zverev and Joao Fonseca will meet for the first time on the ATP Tour in the quarterfinals of the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Fonseca booked his place in a maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal by beating Matteo Berrettini in straight sets.
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Zverev, on the other hand, advanced to the last eight in Monte-Carlo for the first time since 2022 by defeating Zizou Bergs 6-2, 7-5.
Fonseca has enjoyed strong performances in career-first clashes with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz last month.
Now, the Brazilian teenager will have the chance to earn a statement victory over Zverev, who had high praise for him ahead of the match.
Alexander Zverev previews his meeting with Joao Fonseca
Asked if he is excited to play Fonseca for the first time in his on-court interview after beating Bergs, Zverev responded: “Yeah, for sure.
“Of course, clay I think is his best surface. He’s won Buenos Aires. He’s played on the surface before. So I’m excited to play him for the first time.”
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Fonseca clinched the first title of his career at an ATP 250 clay-court event in Buenos Aires last year.
Zverev continued: “He’s a very young, up-and-coming talent for sure. I think we’re going to play each other a lot more over the next couple of years.”
Alexander Zverev says his level is ‘still not perfect’
Zverev made the semifinals in both Indian Wells and Miami, where he displayed a high level of tennis, but he says he has yet to find form on the clay.
The German said of the match with Bergs: “Definitely a better match from my side. Still not perfect, I would say.
“Still far away from the level I played in the US. But again, this is the first clay tournament. I feel like nobody’s going to play perfect.
“But yeah, I’m happy with the level today, especially after yesterday where I really didn’t play well. So yeah, we move forward.”
Zverev practiced with Bergs before their match, which he thinks was a bad idea from the Belgian’s coach.
“I’ve never practiced with him before,” said Zverev. “So just seeing his ball, knowing what it feels like, that definitely gave me a little bit of extra there because I knew what to expect a bit more.
“Yeah, maybe not the best idea from his coach. I didn’t know that we’re going to play each other, but his coach knew.
“But maybe he had the same idea. Maybe he just wanted to feel my ball as well. But yeah, I definitely knew a little bit more what to expect because of the practice.”
Zverev was knocked out in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Masters last year, and now has a chance to gain some big ranking points.
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