Alex de Minaur Battles Past Joao Fonseca to Reach Miami Open Fourth Round

Alex de Minaur overcame Joao Fonseca 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 in a gripping Miami Open match, securing his 17th tour-level win of the season. The Australian fought through early struggles to win six of the last seven games, advancing to face Matteo Berrettini. Fonseca, ranked No. 58, saw his seven-match winning streak snapped despite an impressive tournament performance.

Alex de Minaur Battles Past Joao Fonseca to Reach Miami Open Fourth Round

Alex de Minaur delivered a determined performance to overcome rising star Joao Fonseca in a thrilling three-set contest at the Miami Open. The Australian secured a hard-fought 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 victory, tying Felix Auger-Aliassime for the most tour-level wins this season with 17.

In front of an energetic Brazilian crowd, Fonseca put up a strong challenge, forcing De Minaur into long rallies. Despite dropping serve at the start of the final set, the 10th seed maintained composure, using his speed and consistency to turn the match around. Winning six of the last seven games, De Minaur equaled his best result in Miami.

“It was a tough battle. Joao is an explosive player with a lot of confidence, and the crowd was behind him,” De Minaur said. “I had to dig deep and make it as physical as possible.”

The Australian strategically targeted Fonseca’s forehand, pushing the teenager into difficult positions. The 18-year-old committed 43 unforced errors, including 25 from his backhand side, struggling to maintain his early momentum.

De Minaur now advances to face Matteo Berrettini, who defeated Zizou Bergs 6-4, 6-4. The Italian, making his first Masters 1000 Round of 16 appearance on hard courts since 2022, holds a 2-1 edge in their previous meetings.

Fonseca, ranked No. 58 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, was riding a seven-match winning streak before this loss. His impressive run included a Challenger title in Phoenix and a Top 20 win over Ugo Humbert earlier in the tournament.