FONSECA SOLVES A DIFFICULT START
João Fonseca defeated Casper Ruud 7–6(6), 6–3 in the third round of the National Bank Open in Montreal, reaching the last 16 at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the third time in his career.
The 19-year-old Brazilian faced seven break points across his first three service games and fell 2–4 behind. He broke back immediately, recovered from 3–5 in the tie-break and converted his second set point to take the opener.
Fonseca earned an early break in the second set and did not allow Ruud another break opportunity. The result gave him his fourth win of the season against a Top-20 opponent.
TWO TEENAGERS IN THE LAST 16
Fonseca joined fellow 19-year-old Rafael Jodar in the fourth round. According to ATP Tour, this is the first time two teenagers have reached the last 16 at the Canadian tournament since Denis Shapovalov and Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2018.
The victory moved Fonseca to 2–0 against Ruud. He had also beaten the former World No. 2 at Roland Garros two months earlier during his run to a first Grand Slam quarter-final.
THE DEFENDING CHAMPION AWAITS
Fonseca will next face Ben Shelton, the defending champion and the only Top-10 player remaining in the draw. Shelton defeated Zizou Bergs 6–3, 6–2 and, like Fonseca, has not dropped a set in Montreal this week.
The match will be a repeat of their Munich quarter-final earlier this season, which the American won.
REPORTING BASIS
ON MEDIA.AL wrote this article from scratch using ATP Tour’s official report published on 8 August 2026. The result, statistics and historical notes are attributed to the ATP.
