Joao Fonseca’s rise continued in Basel on Sunday. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s frustrations also continued.
The Brazilian won his second title of 2025 – and denied 18th-seeded Davidovich Fokina his first – with a 6-3, 6-4 win that highlighted all the 19-year-old’s promise in front of a packed house in St. Jakobshalle.
“It’s crazy,” Fonseca said. “I just want to thank my family and my coaches for helping me achieve this amazing feat.”
With his parents and other family members in attendance, Fonseca put in a consistent and stellar performance, playing on the front foot and never letting his opponent gain the upper hand during the 85-minute bout.
“My parents just arrived from Brazil, they were actually going to Paris but they changed their flights and arrived an hour before the game with my uncles, it’s just amazing to have them here for the biggest title of my career.
“They were the ones who believed in me.”
Fonseca’s electric performance came to the chagrin of Davidovich Fokina, who dropped to 0-5 lifetime in finals, and 0-4 in 2025. The 26-year-old was bidding to become the ninth champion for the first time on the tour, but was beaten – and beaten – by the 46th-seeded teenager.
Fonseca, who also won the title on red clay in Buenos Aires in February, became the first Brazilian to win an ATP 500 title and the first man from his country to win a title at any level above the ATP 250 since Gustavo Kuerten in 2001.
With his victory Fonseca became the youngest champion in Basel in 36 years, since Jim Courier beat Stefan Edberg in the 1989 final. He will rise to a career-high ranking of No. 30 in Monday’s ATP rankings.
He hit 20 forehand winners in nine for Davidovich Fokina, made 75 percent of his first serves and saved three of the four break points he faced.
Davidovich Fokina scored his only break in the fifth game of the opening set, which temporarily brought him back on serve, but he was broken shortly after Fonseca won three of the next four games to take the first set.
Success came quickly in the second set as Fonseca was broken in the opening game, but the Spaniard saved break points in the fifth and seventh games to stay in touch. Davidovich Fokina extended the contest by saving a match point while serving at 3-5, but Fonseca calmly stepped up to the line and gave him the title at love.
“You have played incredible tennis and you have a bright future, you will surely be the next Nole to beat Carlos and Jannik for sure – congratulations on this tournament and good luck for next week,” Davidovich said during the trophy ceremony.
The Spaniard was smiling despite the difficult defeat.
“It was a really good year, I can’t complain (about) four finals, but it always breaks my heart in the final,” he said. “I think I’m improving and I think we’ll have the chance to be champions again.”
