With support in weight from the fans at his debut at Laver Cup, he beat Italian Flavio Cobolli in San Francisco, in the early hours of Saturday (20). By 2 sets to 0, the Brazilian secured the first point of the team world in the competition, becoming the youngest athlete to win the feat.
Under the eyes of Roger Federer, creator of the tournament, Fonseca won the first set 6/4. The Brazilian was back 2/4, but reacted with personality, returned the break and became the partial. During the match, Andre Agassi, captain of the World team, led the choir with the name of the Brazilian with the team on the edge of the court.
In the second set, the Brazilian kept the pack, broke Cobolli’s withdrawal twice and raised the audience at Chase Center. Drawing on 5/3, Fonseca confirmed the service and sealed the victory over the 25th of the world, marking his debut with authority at Laver Cup.
At the end of the match, besides the victory, Fonseca also celebrated the privilege of being alongside tennis legends such as Agassi, who showed full support for the young tennis player throughout the match.
The Brazilian commented in a good mood the generational difference with captain of the World team, who retired 12 days after the birth of Fonseca. “We played: You retired in 2006 and I was born in 2006. Many things come from sports legends, things you don’t learn, just the experience tells you, and I thank you so much for all this experience I am having,” he said.
ATP ranking number 42 also reinforced the importance of team support during the match. “I had a break early, I was more nervous than usual, but I talked to Andre, with the team and they controlled my nerves,” he said.
*With information from Estadão Content
Posted by Nicolas Robert
