2025 ATP General News

[mrzz]

Mrzz,
Just saw the score for Fonseca v Kotov in the Phoenix Challenger, he won in SS against Kotvov 62 64, he will play Struff tomorrow, I must say it is a very competitive challenger, with the players that have entered.

Yep, haven't watched the match or even highlights, but from what I heard was one of those good showings from Fonseca. First seed is Struff himself if I am not mistaken, n 42 in the world, crowded with folks under the top 80 so yes, a challenger with basically the level of a smaller ATP 250 tournament. It is usually the case for this challenger, folks who lose early at IW and want to keep it up untill Miami all end up there.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Yep, haven't watched the match or even highlights, but from what I heard was one of those good showings from Fonseca. First seed is Struff himself if I am not mistaken, n 42 in the world, crowded with folks under the top 80 so yes, a challenger with basically the level of a smaller ATP 250 tournament. It is usually the case for this challenger, folks who lose early at IW and want to keep it up untill Miami all end up there.

Agree it is a good tournament for players that went out early at IW, and keep their match play before Miami

 

[don_fabio]

Djokovic should have played here

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Mrzz,
Good win today for Fonseca over the 4th seed Struff in 3 sets 61 46 63 at the Phoenix Challenger
Someone texted me and said you can ' stream free on the ATP website' I was just SB the match
Apparently the Challenger TV web stream wasnt working, but you can watch these matches on the ATP Tour YouTube channel if you can
These are the QFs
Borges (1) vs WC Smith
Moutet vs Bublik
Fonseca vs Gaston
Nishikori vs Cobollo (2)

Fonesca is playing in the night session BTW it is his 5th Top 50 win in 2025.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

These are the main draw wild cards for Miami Open, ( so far)
Learner Tien
Elliot Spizziri
Chris Eubanks
Federico Cina
Wu Yibing

ATP Draw for Miami Open will be Monday 17th March at 1pm local time

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the QFs of the Phoenix Challenger
Fonseca d Gaston 64 64

SFs
Saturday 15th March
Borges (1) vs A.Bublik
J.Fonseca vs K.Nishikori

 

[mrzz]

In the QFs of the Phoenix Challenger
Fonseca d Gaston 64 64

SFs
Saturday 15th March
Borges (1) vs A.Bublik
J.Fonseca vs K.Nishikori

Good to see that Fonseca left that bad match at IW on the past. Great match with Nishikori who is slowly getting back to a good form.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Update from Miami regarding time of the draw
It will now be Monday 17th March at 2.30pm
Closed event. Draw will be revealed on tournaments platforms

 

[mrzz]

Measured first set from Fonseca, leading Nishikori 1x0.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Measured first set from Fonseca, leading Nishikori 1x0.

Good win from Fonseca 63 63 over Kei he will play Bublik in the final

 

[mrzz]

Fonseca beats Nishikori 6x3 6x3 for a place in this strong challenger final. Now on to face Bublik (as MM posted above while I was typing).

I don't know what to think of this match... It was a measured, controled win, against a quality opponent (pretty sure Nishikori will soon be back in the top 50, and I won´t be surprised to see him ending the year in the top 30). But... can´t help but think that Fonseca seemed... "normal" in that match. Surely this is by design, and I totally get it, just hope they are not trying to go against his very nature.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Arthur Fils has stopped working with Sebastien Grosjean ( announced it on his FB page via social media), after making the QF of a Masters 1000 for the first time? no mention of Grosjean's replacement at the moment.

 

[El Dude]

Fonzie's up to #64 in the live rankings. If he wins the final, he'll be #60. So a 16-20 rankings tournament for him. If he keeps chipping away at it, he could be seeded for Roland Garros.

 

[mrzz]

Fonzie's up to #64 in the live rankings. If he wins the final, he'll be #60. So a 16-20 rankings tournament for him. If he keeps chipping away at it, he could be seeded for Roland Garros.

I was trying not to be overly optimistic but you blew that door open. Given that he is a hard worker and will not shy away from challengers and smaller ATP's, he will keep climbing for a while longer (but there is a ceiling on that path).

However, he is basically one dream run away from being seeded, and he is exactly that kind of player...

 

[El Dude]

I was trying not to be overly optimistic but you blew that door open. Given that he is a hard worker and will not shy away from challengers and smaller ATP's, he will keep climbing for a while longer (but there is a ceiling on that path).

However, he is basically one dream run away from being seeded, and he is exactly that kind of player...

Yeah, I hear you on the ceiling on the current path, which I see as being the difference between a top 20 player and a top 50 player. He's already the latter, regardless of where the rankings have him. Meaning, he'll rise to the 40-50 range quite easily. But to take the next step and reach the top 20, he's got to start going deeper in Slams and Masters, and maybe win an ATP 500 or two.

He'll get there, though.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Of course great match scheduling Fonseca's match is on at the same time the final of the mens at IW Meh!

 

[mrzz]

In the most important match of the day, although he let a slew of opportunities slip through his fingers, Fonseca wins the first in a tie break, 7x6 (5)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the most important match of the day, although he let a slew of opportunities slip through his fingers, Fonseca wins the first in a tie break, 7x6 (5)

It was a good comeback after he lost his serve to win the match, then toughed it out in the TB, Bublik is a tricky opponent at the best of times

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Congrats Fonseca in straight sets over Bublik 76(5) 76(0) to win the Arizona Tennis Classic!

 

[mrzz]

Fonseca wins in two tie breaks, winning the second one 7x0! (again while I was typing MM posts the results before me!)

A win is a win, and this was a good tournament. One top #50 win, plus Nishikori who is currently top 60. All players he beat, but Kotov in the first round who is #102, were top 100.

And, again, I got that strange feeling that Fonseca is overly constrained -- but again they know what they are doing. Rationally is obviously the right thing to do.

One thing that was not completely positive in this match was the number of lost opportunities. Twice Fonseca served for the first set, twice he was broken. Not only that, he had other big points where he could have stretched his lead. On the other hand, he kept his cool and won the set nonetheless.

The second was less of a roler coaster. Very composed tie break in the end. He nearly lost the point on his serve to start the TB, but from there it was all smooth sailing. What kept Bublik in the match were his serve (obviously), his extremely good net play (he won 90% of the exchanges were both players were close to the net, he taught Fonseca a lesson in that regard), and -- to my completely disbelief -- his extremely good passing shots. But still the kid won in the end.

Compared to his Buenos Aires campaing, it was surely less flashy, but at no moment he flirted with disaster, as he did there.