João Fonseca’s match against American Taylor Fritz was suspended for lack of natural light at Eastbourne ATP 250 in England on Wednesday. The match will be resumed on Thursday. The 18 -year -old had just tied the confrontation against the world’s number five by beating the second set.
Fritz started the game in front, making 6/3 on the initial set. But Fonseca reacted and took the second partial in Tie-Break, 7/6 (7/5), forcing the third set dispute. Prior to the start of the partial, however, the organization of the tournament decided to suspend the confrontation because of the advanced time.
The match was suspended around 8:35 pm local time, 4:35 pm Brasilia. The game started later than planned initially because the match, the last of the central court for the day programming, was preceded by long games. And the tournament does not have artificial lighting system.
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This Wednesday’s duel was the second of Fonseca in the competition, worth a place in the quarterfinals. He tries to reach the quarterfinals for the fourth time on the circuit, the second of the season (the first was in Buenos Aires, where he was champion) and the first in the grass in his career. And Mira became the second Brazilian to reach this phase in the history of the tournament – the first was Flávio Saretta in 2004, when the competition was played in Nottingham.
If you turn the scoring and win Fritz, Fonseca will win the biggest victory of your career so far. His best result until Wednesday’s confrontation is the triumph over Russian Andrey Rublev, then nine of the world, in the first round of Australia’s open open in January.
In his preparation for Wimbledon, which starts on Monday, Fonseca was balanced with the favorite, despite oscillations at the beginning of the game and in Tie-Break. Fritz dominated the initial set, but began to feel the reaction of the Brazilian in the second partial, despite all the favoritism for the confrontation.
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The American is the main key head of the tournament, current champion and seeks his fourth trophy in the English competition. Fritz, which was number four in the world in 2024, usually stands out in the grass: four of his nine circuit titles were won on the fastest floor of the calendar.
In the first duel between the two tennis players on the circuit, Fritz made his favoritism and intimacy with Eastbourne’s grass in the first games. The American took advantage of the first opportunity provided by the Brazilian and got the first breach of withdrawal in the second game.
Fonseca “entered” in the game in the third game and began to confirm her withdrawal games with some tranquility. However, he could not enjoy the only break point provided by the American, who won the first partial without startled.
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The second set was more parental, with dominant looting for both sides. Fonseca granted two break points, but avoided the break with firm plays, one of them a risky letting Fritz countered out. In Tie-Break, the Brazilian left behind, but sought the turn and tied the duel.
