On Saturday, Joao Fonseca survived one of the toughest battles so far at Indian Wells this year, coming back from double match point down at 6-4 in the second set tie-break to defeat Karen Khachanov, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4.
On Sunday he won again but in much different fashion, storming past Tommy Paul, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the fourth round of the Masters 1000 event.
With that, he’s broken new ground—the 19-year-old is now through to the round of 16 at a Masters 1000 event for the first time in his career.
And with his wins over Khachanov and Paul over the last two days, he’s now won seven of his last eight matches against Top 30 players.
JOAO FONSECA VS TOP 30 PLAYERS SINCE ’25 US OPEN: 7-1
- d. No. 27 Tsitsipas in ’25 Davis Cup RR, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
- d. No. 25 Cobolli in ’25 Laver Cup RR, 6-4, 6-3
- d. No. 23 Shapovalov in ’25 Basel QFs, 3-6, 6-3, 4-1 ret.
- d. No. 18 Davidovich Fokina in ’25 Basel F, 6-3, 6-4
- d. No. 24 Shapovalov in ’25 Paris 1st Rd, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
- l. to No. 14 Khachanov in ’25 Paris 2nd Rd, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
- d. No. 16 Khachanov in ’26 Indian Wells 2nd Rd, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4
- d. No. 24 Paul in ’26 Indian Wells 3rd Rd, 6-2, 6-3
