Joao Fonseca powers into Canberra Challenger semi-final

The Next Gen ATP Finals champion Joao Fonseca is through into the semi-final at the Canberra Challenger. The 18-year-old will compete in his fifth Challenger semi-final, extending the winning streak that started in Jeddah at the end of December. 

Joao faced Harold Mayot in the quarter-final and scored a 6-2, 6-3 triumph in an hour and 12 minutes, remaining on the title course. The young fired nine aces and played better behind the first serve. Fonseca faced issues behind the initial shot. 

However, he denied five of seven break points and limited the damage. Mayot could not follow that pace in his games. The Frenchman dropped over half of the points in his games and suffered six breaks from nine chances presented to a teenager. 

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Joao Fonseca takes out Mayot 6-2, 6-3 and scores his 8th consecutive win!#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/ThdH1ly48u

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) January 2, 2025

The Brazilian made a push on the return in the first game of the duel. He fired a forehand winner on the second break point, delivering an early break and moving in front. The young gun denied a break point in the next one with a backhand winner and held for 2-0. 

Joao had to work even harder in the fourth game after offering his opponent three break points. A teenager denied them with service winners and held for 3-1. Fonseca stepped in on the return in the fifth game and secured another break with a forehand winner. 

Harold extended the set with a hold at love in game seven. However, Joao wrapped up the first part of the duel with a volley winner in game eight, moving 6-2 up after 34 minutes. Fonseca secured a break at the beginning of the second set to extend his lead.

Instead of building on that, the Brazilian suffered two straight breaks and fell 3-1 behind. The Next Gen ATP Finals winner launched his comeback in the fifth game,…