João Fonseca, a 19-year-old Brazilian and currently ranked 45th in the world, produced perhaps the most dramatic moment of his Grand Slam debut at the US Open on Monday. He battled through illness and a vomiting episode in the third set, yet prevailed over Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia (ranked 42) in straight sets, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-3.
The match featured two tight opening sets decided by tiebreaks. Fonseca, who saved a late break in the first set and then seized control in the tiebreak, won 7-3 after racing to a 3-0 lead. In the second set, Kecmanovic broke first, Fonseca answered back, and the set again went to a tiebreak. This time, the Brazilian trailed 3-1 and 5-2 before roaring back to take it 7-5, maintaining his streak of clutch tiebreak wins in Grand Slam debuts.
The third set showed Fonseca’s resilience. After both players held serve early, the Brazilian requested medical attention around 3-3 and soon after vomited on court. He then broke to go up 5-3 and, following a double-fault by Kecmanovic, closed the match with a 6-3 final set. It was a historic moment for Fonseca, who added another straight-sets victory in a Grand Slam main draw, cementing his reputation as a player to watch on big stages.
Statistics reflected Fonseca’s aggressive, precise play: 14 aces and 51 forehand winners helped him withstand the physical challenge and pressure of the deciding sets. The performance drew widespread attention on social media, with European fans noting his poise and potential. Some comments highlighted him as a future star and pointed to the rapid growth he’s shown at such a young age, while others remarked on the endurance he displayed despite his illness.
As for the broader context, Fonseca’s win in his Grand Slam debut continued a pattern of impressive early-round performances in majors: he has now recorded four first-round tiebreak wins in Slam debuts, including a victory over Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open and a win over Jacob Fearnley at Wimbledon. There was even chatter on social media about him becoming a focal point for future success in Brazilian tennis, with one video circulating suggesting that Djokovic would be interested in coaching him after his playing days.
Looking ahead, Fonseca’s breakthrough at the US Open underscores the rapid ascent of a young talent who has already captured attention with grit and skill on the sport’s biggest stages. His ability to maintain focus and execute under duress bodes well for his development, and fans will be eager to see how he builds on this milestone as the tournament progresses.
Summary: A dramatic US Open first-round win for 19-year-old João Fonseca over Miomir Kecmanovic, despite a third-set illness and vomiting. Two tight tiebreaks, a 6-3 final set, and standout serving and forehand power highlighted a landmark performance that has already generated buzz about Fonseca as a rising star in tennis. Positive momentum and media attention suggest a bright path ahead for the Brazilian in the Grand Slams to come.