Joao Fonseca books first ATP 500 final with win over Jaume Munar in Basel

Joao Fonseca continued his breakout 2025 season by advancing to the biggest final of his career at the Swiss Indoors Basel, defeating Spain’s Jaume Munar 7-6 (4), 7-5 in Saturday’s semifinals.

With the win, the 19-year-old Brazilian becomes just the third teenager to reach the Basel final, joining Roger Federer (2000) and Holger Rune (2022).

Read More: Three Basel quarterfinals end in retirement, ATP Finals hopes take hit for Auger-Aliassime and Ruud

“I knew that it was going to be a tough match,” Fonseca said in a post-match interview. “Jaume is playing well on this surface. He’s putting a lot of pressure, and you need to defend a lot of the time. I don’t like playing against those guys because I like to play aggressive and go for winners.

“I’m happy with how I stayed mentally after an early break in the second set. I’m very happy, so let’s stay hype for the final.”

Fonseca will face another Spaniard in Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Sunday’s title match. The No. 8 seed advanced after Ugo Humbert retired in the second set of their semifinal, trailing 7-6 (4), 3-1, due to a lower back injury. It marked Davidovich Fokina’s second consecutive win via retirement following No. 4 seed Casper Ruud’s withdrawal in the quarterfinals with an ankle issue after losing the first set 7-6 (1).

Davidovich Fokina, seeking his first ATP title, has finished runner-up in all four of his previous final appearances. Fonseca, meanwhile, will be bidding for his second career title and first above the ATP 250 level, having won his maiden trophy in Buenos Aires earlier this season.

The teenager’s path to the Basel final included a win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, a walkover against No. 7 seed Jakub Mensik, and a quarterfinal victory after No. 9 seed Denis Shapovalov retired with a knee injury while trailing 3-6, 6-3, 4-1.

No matter the result on Sunday, Fonseca is guaranteed a new career-high ranking, projected to rise to at least No. 34 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

“It’s been an amazing year, starting at No. 130 in the world, now 40-something and into a first ATP 500 final,” Fonseca said.

“We didn’t go to Asia this year, I was a little bit sick. I was working with my mentality, and now I’m getting the opportunities… I’m just very happy to be here.”