The Brazilian was unable to take advantage of the Serbian’s hesitations and imbalance and was defeated by 2 sets to 1, with partials of 3/6, 6/3 and 7/6 (7/1), in 2h24
What could be a safe game by João Fonseca became a drama right at the debut of the Roma Open. Even pushed by the crowd, the Brazilian was unable to take advantage of the mistakes and imbalance of the Serbian Hamad Medjedovic and was defeated by 2 sets to 1, with partials of 3/6, 6/3 and 7/6 (7/1), in 2h24.
Provocative, Medjedovic faltered in the first set and showed signs of insecurity due to nervousness. What could have been a matter of time for Fonseca to win changed completely from the middle of the second set. THE Serb took charge of the game and put the Brazilian against the ropes. Fonseca found the strength to take the match to the tie-break, but the fluctuation was still costly. Now, the Brazilian intensifies his preparation for Roland Garroswhich starts on May 24th.
In the next phase of the Italian tournament, in a game that should be scheduled for Monday, the Serbian will measure forces with Argentine Mariano Navone (number 44), who defeated the fifth best ranked, the Canadian Félix-Auger Aliassime, by 2 sets to 0, with double 7/6 (7/4 and 7/5).
The match started evenly, with both tennis players confirming their serves. The set seemed to be heading towards a tie-break until at the beginning of the eighth game, when Fonseca was leading 4/3, and the Serb was serving, Medjedovic demanded support from the crowd after a beautiful point. That gesture, however, had consequences.
Fonseca then managed to fit in good responses to Medjedovic’s serve, took the first break and reached 5/3. The Serb reacted by breaking his racket, in a scene similar to the one the Brazilian played in his last match, in a defeat to Spaniard Rafa Jódar at the Madrid Open. The fans on the court were unforgiving and booed Medjedovic.
In the decisive game, Fonseca took advantage of his opponent’s intemperance and closed the first set with an ace, guaranteeing the 6/3.
O Brazilian wasted a good opportunity to take the lead in the second set, given the opponent’s emotional instability. However, the Serb managed to land good attacks and confirmed his serve.
The scenario was repeated in the second and third games with Medjedovic’s serve. Despite managing to lengthen the game, Fonseca didn’t get the break and saw the Serbian save break points and accumulate aces to overcome the Brazilian.
The set seemed in the Brazilian’s favor until, in the seventh game, Medjedovic confirmed his serve with ease and then looked for the break and reached 5/3 on the scoreboard with a double fault from Fonseca at the decisive point. The Serb then served to confirm the set and closed at 6/3, tying the score at 1-1.
Cornered and downcastFonseca saw a lack of conviction as his main rival on the court. In the third set, he again hesitated to confirm break point and ended up being broken in the third game, with 2/1 for the Serb.
The Brazilian did not resume his good tennis and accumulated mistakes to the point of being broken again. Medjedovic reached 4/1 on the scoreboard.
Fonseca was able to recover one of the breaks, discounted it to 4/3 and now had the opportunity to equalize the score. But the joy was short-lived, and Medjedovic reached 5/3.
The Brazilian fans chanted “I believe”. Fonseca confirmed his serve, making it 5/4 and managed a break in a dramatic game, drawing at 5/5, when the Serb had the point of the game.
Medjedovic repeatedly complained about the fans, who were making noise during the games and disrupting the Serb’s performance. Then, it was Fonseca’s turn to complain that his opponent spoke in the middle of the serve. When defeat seemed certain, Fonseca managed to turn things around and scored 6/5.
Medjedovic, nevertheless, managed to find strength, took the duel to a tie-break and eliminated the Brazilian.
Sinner debuts with a quiet victory
Playing at home, the leader of the world ranking had no difficulties to overcome his first obstacle at the Roma Open. Jannik Sinner defeated Austrian Sebastian Ofner (82nd in the ranking) by 2 sets to 0, with splits of 6/3 and 6/4, in 1h41.
The zebra in Rome claimed another victim besides Aliassime. American Ben Shelton, fifth best in the world, lost to Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, which occupies the modest 117th position in the ranking.
The tennis player from Georgia won by 2 sets to 1, partials of 6/4, 7/6 (7/5) and 6/3, in 2h18. Basilashvili will face another American in the next round: Brandon Nakashima, who dispatched Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.
