In a major upset, 18-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca defeated 9th seed Andrey Rublev in his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open. Fonseca, cheered on by Brazilian fans, will now face Italy's Lorenzo Sonego in the second round. Meanwhile, 5th seed Daniil Medvedev narrowly avoided the same fate, coming back from a two-set deficit to defeat Thailand's Kasidit Samrej.
Teenager Fonseca Stuns Rublev in Australian Open Upset
In a remarkable upset at the Australian Open, 18-year-old Brazilian qualifier Joao Fonseca dispatched ninth seed Andrey Rublev in his Grand Slam debut. Fonseca, making his first appearance at a major tournament, defeated the Russian 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 in a match that lasted nearly three hours.
Cheered on by a vocal contingent of Brazilian fans, Fonseca displayed maturity beyond his years, controlling the pace of the match and dictating the baseline exchanges. Rublev, who had a disappointing 2022 season, struggled to find his rhythm against the up-and-comer.
Fonseca's victory marks a significant moment for Brazilian tennis. He became the first Brazilian man since Guga Kuerten in 2005 to win a match at the Australian Open. The win also propelled him into the second round, where he will face Italy's Lorenzo Sonego.
Meanwhile, fifth seed Daniil Medvedev narrowly avoided a similar fate in his opening match. The Russian trailed Thailand's Kasidit Samrej by two sets to love before fighting back to win in five sets.
Background on Joao Fonseca
Joao Fonseca was born in 2004 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He began playing tennis at a young age and has been training at the prestigious Larri Passos Tennis Institute.
Fonseca won the prestigious Copa Gerdau Brazil Junior International in 2022, becoming the first Brazilian to claim the title since Kuerten. He also reached the final of the Wimbledon Junior Championships.
Fonseca made his ATP Tour debut in Gstaad, Switzerland, in 2022, where he lost in the first round. His victory over Rublev marked his first triumph at the tour level.
Top 5 FAQs
1. How old is Joao Fonseca? Answer: 18 years old
2. Where is Joao Fonseca from? Answer: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
3. What is Joao Fonseca's ranking? Answer: Currently ranked 326th in the world
4. Who is Joao Fonseca's coach? Answer: Larri Passos
5. What is the significance of Joao Fonseca's victory over Andrey Rublev? Answer: It is a major upset and marks the first time a Brazilian man has won a match at the Australian Open since Guga Kuerten in 2005.
After a 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, Liverpool fans are urging their club to make a move for defender Murillo, who put on a top performance against the Reds. Despite falling behind early in the match, a combination from substitutes Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota helped Liverpool secure a point against an unbeaten Forest side. However, it was Murillo's exceptional defensive display, including 18 clearances and four tackles, that caught the attention of Liverpool fans and has sparked calls for his signature.
Liverpool are reportedly in negotiations with Bundesliga 2 side FC Nurnberg for a summer transfer of Greek striker Stefanos Tzimas. Nurnberg currently have an obligation to sign Tzimas permanently for £15m, but are willing to sell him for £20m in the same window. In addition, Liverpool could potentially use Championship loanee Ben Doak as part of a deal to try and sign Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, who has been valued at £50m by the Cherries. However, Tzimas' form has also caught the attention of other Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Brighton, and Aston Villa. Stay updated with the latest news and transfer updates on Liverpool FC through our live blog below.
Manchester City's Phil Foden admits that fatigue was a major factor in their disappointing draw against Brentford, after they were unable to hold on to a 2-0 lead. The team's fitness levels were questioned as they struggled to contain the opposition's attacks, resulting in a late equalizer. Foden also addresses the team's upcoming busy schedule and emphasizes the importance of learning from their mistakes moving forward.
Substitute Diogo Jota's header in the second half helped Liverpool secure a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest, keeping them six points clear at the top of the Premier League standings. High-flying Forest, who have exceeded expectations this season after narrowly avoiding relegation last year, took an early lead through Chris Wood. However, Liverpool managed to come back and earn a hard-fought draw, showing their resilience and determination to maintain their lead at the top of the table.
In a thrilling match at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea captain Reece James came to the rescue for his team with a stoppage-time free-kick to secure a 2-2 draw against an unbeaten Bournemouth side. Despite leading 1-0 early on, Chelsea were behind 2-1 before James' late heroics. The draw leaves Chelsea in fourth place, three points ahead of Bournemouth.
Chelsea captain Reece James finally scored his first goal in over two years, giving his team a crucial equalizer in their Premier League match against Bournemouth. Manager Enzo Maresca expressed his happiness at the achievement, while former player Jamie Redknapp praised the talent and potential of Bournemouth. Meanwhile, there are similarities being drawn between current form of Nottingham Forest and Leicester's unlikely Premier League title win.
In a surprising performance, Nottingham Forest and their goalkeeper Matz Sels held Premier League leaders Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at the City Ground. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo praised Sels for his standout performance in the match, as the team continues to make their mark in the league. With their recent success, the question on everyone's mind is whether or not Nottingham Forest could potentially win the Premier League title.
Novak Djokovic, the 20-time Grand Slam champion, has expressed his regret for not attending Rafael Nadal's retirement ceremony. The ceremony, which took place during the Davis Cup last year, was not given the proper recognition it deserved due to Spain's unexpected defeat in the quarter-finals. Djokovic, who had planned to attend, believes that the ceremony was not done justice and speculates that Nadal may have intentionally not made a big deal out of it.
PUMA India has signed a multi-year collaboration with PV Sindhu, making her the first Indian face of the brand in badminton. To celebrate this partnership, PUMA changed its brand signage to 'PVMA' at several of its stores across the country for close to a week, garnering attention and buzz on the internet. PUMA will also be launching a new badminton range, featuring specialized footwear, apparel, and accessories in collaboration with Sindhu. This partnership places her alongside other elite athletes and iconic personalities under the PUMA brand.