Joao Fonseca storms past Tommy Paul to reach fourth round of Indian Wells, Sinner awaits
The Brazilian teenager has now won seven of his last eight matches against Top 30 players since last September.
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
Paul had won the pair’s only previous meeting in two tie-breaks, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3), on the clay of another Masters 1000 event in Madrid last year, but this time Fonseca came out in total control, racing out to a 3-0 lead and eventually breaking a second time to close out the 40-minute first set.
The momentum shifted early in the second set as Paul broke for the first time in the opening game and then held for a 2-0 lead, but Fonseca got the break back right away, winning three games in a row—and eventually six of the last seven games of the match—to run away with it in the end.
The Brazilian teenager clubbed one last unreturnable forehand on match point to seal the victory after an hour and 22 minutes on court.
Up next for Fonseca? The world No. 2, Jannik Sinner.
It’ll be a first-time meeting.
“Jannik is a huge player,” Fonseca said. “Him and Carlos, they’re winning everything. I’ll just rest tomorrow and then on Tuesday back on court, trying to put as much pressure as I can, and trying to play like this.
“We tennis players, we look forward to playing against the top players, so it’s going to be a pleasure, and hopefully I can get the win.”