Match Report
Fonseca breaks new ground in Monte-Carlo with ‘tremendous particular’ run, Zverev sinks Bergs
Brazilian advances to the QFs at a Masters 1000 occasion for the primary time
April 09, 2026
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Joao Fonseca in motion towards Matteo Berrettini on Thursday in Monte-Carlo.
By Sam Jacot
Joao Fonseca is an ATP Masters 1000 quarter-finalist for the primary time. The Brazilian produced a high-quality efficiency to beat Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday on the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
The 19-year-old discovered a variety of beautiful angles in entrance of the packed crowd on Court des Princes and performed with depth to overwhelm Berrettini, who defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-0, 6-0 in the second spherical.
“It is super special. I was looking for this result for a long time,” Fonseca mentioned. “Of course I want more. I am very confident and focused. I was very happy with the way I fought today. From the beginning, putting a lot of pressure. Playing huge return games and very good serve games. I was putting a lot of pressure and that helps you stay more calm during the match.”
Fonseca received 94 per cent of first-serve factors in the opening set and didn’t let a setback in the beginning of the second deter him. Berrettini was damaged in the beginning of the second set however responded instantly when he crushed a forehand move to stage at 2-2, triggering a roar from the previous Top 10 star.
However, Fonseca continued to play aggressively and pulled the Italian from nook to nook to regain momentum and triumph after 75 minutes. Fonseca is the primary Brazilian Masters 1000 quarter-finalist since Thomaz Bellucci in Madrid in 2011, whereas he’s the youngest man to achieve this stage in Monte-Carlo since Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet in 2005.
Fonseca, who’s making his debut in Monte-Carlo, is up 5 spots to No. 35 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings after levelling his Lexus ATP Head2Headvert sequence with Berrettini at 1-1. The former Next Gen ATP Finals champion will meet third seed Alexander Zverev in the final eight.
Zverev downed Zizou Bergs 6-2, 7-5 to achieve the quarter-finals in the Principality for the primary time since 2022. The German did not serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set, however rapidly bounced again to reel off the ultimate two video games to triumph.
“[It was] a better match from my side,” Zverev mentioned when requested the way it in comparison with his opening-round win on Wednesday in Monte-Carlo, the place he rallied from 2-5 in the deciding set to defeat Cristian Garin. “It was still not perfect. Still far from the level I played in the US, but this is my first clay tournament… I am happy with the level today. We move forward.”
The No. 3 participant in the PIF ATP Rankings Zverev is chasing his eighth Masters 1000 crown and can now meet Fonseca for the primary time. Last month, Fonseca confronted Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for the primary time in Miami and Indian Wells, respectively, pushing each in slim defeats.
“I think clay is his best surface,” Zverev mentioned when discussing Fonseca. “He won Buenos Aires and has played well on the surface before. I am excited to play him for the first time. He is a young upcoming talent and I think we will play each other a lot more in the next couple of years.”
Did You Know?
Fonseca is the second man born in 2006 to achieve the quarter-finals at an ATP Masters 1000 occasion, becoming a member of Martin Landaluce, who superior to that stage in Miami final month.
