In Indian Wells, Joo Fonseca wins the first set and advances to the second round.
João Fonseca comes back from behind to win the first set and advances to the second round in Indian Wells.
Brazilian player will face Russian Khachanov again in the second round.
It didn’t seem like João Fonseca hadn’t played an official match on a hard court for almost two months. Quite aggressive, in his usual style, dishing out winners, the Brazilian defeated Belgian Raphael Collignon (77th in the world) in his opening match at the Indian Wells Masters 1000 early Thursday morning, 7-6 (2) and 6-4, in 1 hour and 42 minutes. To the delight of the crowd, who repeatedly chanted the famous ‘João Fonseca’.
“I’m very happy with how I played today, how I handled the pressure, with much more rhythm. Let’s go all out for the second round,” celebrated Brazil’s number 1 player, still on the court.
Until then, the protégé of coach Guilherme Teixeira had only played one match on that surface in 2026, in his opening match loss at the Australian Open in January against American Eliott Spizzirri. It’s worth remembering that last Sunday, the Brazilian won an exhibition tournament in Las Vegas, the MGM Slam, in a super tiebreak series. He secured three victories against Frenchman Gael Monfils, Kazakh Alexander Bublik, and American Reilly Opelka.
On Thursday, right after being broken, João Fonseca saw his opponent serving for the first set at 6-5. But he wasn’t intimidated, immediately broke back, and dominated the tiebreak.
João Fonseca reunites with his tormentor.
In the second round, Brazil’s number 1 and world number 35 will face his last opponent from 2025, Russian Karen Khachanov (16th). In October, in their only previous encounter, the Russian tennis player prevailed in the second round of the Paris Masters 1000.
Below is a recap of the Brazilian’s victory on Thursday:
2nd SET: João Fonseca 6/4
- Collignon confirms, and the Brazilian will serve for the match at 5-4.
- Without difficulty, the player from Rio de Janeiro wins 5-3 and is one step away from the second round.
- Brazilian will serve at 4/3.
- João Fonseca opens with a 4/2 lead.
- The Belgian tennis player confirms his set and reduces the deficit to 3-2.
- The Brazilian confirms and opens up a 3/1 lead.
- After a very eventful rally, Brazil’s number 1 rider scores another victory. And the crowd chants: João Fonseca.
- Without any scares, the Brazilian team draws.
- Collignon confirms the first game.
1st SET: João Fonseca 7/6 (2)
- I need it, João closes at 7/2.
- The first minibreak goes to the Brazilian, who opens up a 4/2 lead.
- With a forehand winner down the line, João Fonseca breaks back, gets the crowd on their feet, and takes the set to a tiebreak.
- The Belgian tennis player takes advantage of his first break of the match to secure the break, with a forehand that goes wide against the Brazilian: 6/5.
- Collignon also confirms without any scares and ties the score at 5-5.
- This time without problems, João Fonseca confirms: 5/4.
- With a great first serve, Collignon saved his opponent’s fourth chance in a game that lasted more than five minutes, the longest of the match so far.
- The Brazilian hits a ball out of bounds and wastes the third break point of the game.
- The Belgian tennis player saves the first two break points of the match.
- João Fonseca puts pressure on the return and gets the first breaks of the game.
- In his most difficult service game yet, the Brazilian confirms: 4/3.
- Once again struggling, the Belgian tennis player confirms his serve.
- Without any scares, the Brazilian makes it 3-2, and the crowd chants ‘João Fonseca’.
- João Fonseca plays well, even managing to tie the score at 40/40, but the Belgian confirms again and makes it 2/2.
- From scratch, the Rio native confirms the service.
- Brazil’s number 1 player starts the third game with his first ace of the match.
- Collignon, with an ace, ties the score at 1-1.
- With a cross-court winner to the left, the Brazilian wins the first game.
- João Fonseca starts the game with a serve.
- The players are finishing their warm-up.
