Joao Fonseca advanced to the Roland Garros quarter-finals for the first time in his career after defeating Casper Ruud on Sunday evening.
Fonseca emerged victorious in a match that was marred by line-call controversy, defeating the former world number two 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
After controversy in Casper Ruud’s match, Roland Garros now NEEDS to implement electronic line calling 😬
Fonseca has consequently advanced to the quarter-final stage of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.
The Brazilian will hope to continue his fine form when he plays Jakub Mensik on Tuesday evening.
Fonseca has long been tipped as a future star of the sport; and few could argue otherwise after his performances in Paris.
Joao Fonseca usurps Juan Martín del Potro
As per statisticians OptaAce, Joao Fonseca has become the second-youngest South American player to reach the quarter-final stage of a Grand Slam event.
At 19 years and 276 days, Fonseca trails only Guillermo Perez Roldan, who reached a major quarter-final while aged 19 years and 221 days.
Fonseca has also eclipsed the efforts of Argentine tennis legend Juan Martín del Potro.
Del Potro qualified for his first Grand Slam quarter-final at the 2008 US Open, beating Gilles Simon and Kei Nishikori en route.
The Argentine was aged 19 years and 336 days when he accomplished the feat.
Youngest South American men to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final in the Open Era
- Guillermo Perez Roldan – 19 years and 221 days
- Joao Fonseca – 19 years and 276 days
- Juan Martín Del Potro – 19 years and 336 days
- Alberto Mancini – 20 years and nine days
- David Nalbandian – 20 years and 174 days
A year later, Del Potro won his first and only Grand Slam title, beating Roger Federer to win the 2009 US Open.
The youngest South American Grand Slam quarter-finalist
Guillermo Pérez Roldán, a two-time junior French Open champion, qualified for one Grand Slam quarter-final during his career.
The Argentine, from Mar del Plata, became the youngest South American Grand Slam quarter-finalist at the 1988 French Open.
Seeded 15th in Paris, Roldan defeated compatriot Alberto Mancini, Tore Meinecke and Patrik Kühnen on his way to the fourth round.
There, he stunned second seed Stefan Edberg, defeating the Swede, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Roldan’s run came to an end against Andre Agassi in the quarter-finals. Agassi, seeded ninth, won the contest 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.
Agassi’s run came to an end against Mats Wilander in the semi-finals. Wilander went on to win the title, beating Henri Leconte in the final.
