Joao Fonseca has guaranteed his best-ever result at a big tournament in Monte Carlo.
The Brazilian, currently ranked 40th in the world, booked his place in the quarterfinal of the first clay-court Masters 1000 event of the season after defeating Matteo Berrettini in straight sets.
In just their second career meeting, Fonseca levelled the head-to-head with the former Wimbledon finalist, beating him 6-3, 6-2.
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He has dropped just one set at the Monte-Carlo Masters so far, which came in his second-round bout with Arthur Rinderknech.
Fonseca became the youngest since Rafael Nadal to reach the last 16 in Monte Carlo, and now he has made even more history with the win over Berrettini.
Joao Fonseca makes South American history in Monte Carlo
Fonseca is enjoying a solid debut campaign in Monte-Carlo, and he has just become the second South American teenager to reach the quarterfinals of a Masters event since the format’s inception 1990.
According to Opta Ace, the last player to manage this was Argentine star Guillermo Coria, who did so in Monte Carlo during the 2001 season.
Which Grand Slam title would you like to see Joao Fonseca win?
Up until this year’s edition of the Monte-Carlo Masters, Fonseca had only gone as far as the fourth round at Masters competitions.
He achieved a fourth-round finish at the level for the first time earlier this year at the Indian Wells Open, where he was ultimately knocked out by eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
His most recent attempt at a Masters tournament came at the Miami Open, during which he made the third round before losing to world number one Carlos Alcaraz.
Joao Fonseca’s next opponent at the Monte-Carlo Masters
Fonseca will now face by far his biggest test of the tournament in the quarterfinals, which comes in the form of Alexander Zverev.
The two have never faced each other at an ATP Tour-level event before, and will clash for the first time with a place in the semifinals up for grabs.
Zverev, seeded third in Monte-Carlo, was tested in his opening match, having had to fight back from a set down against Cristian Garin.
He booked his place in the quarterfinals by beating Zizou Bergs in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5.
Zverev is in pursuit of his first title of the 2026 season and his first Masters crown since 2024.
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