Madrid Open pits João Fonseca against Marin Cilic in a clash between promise and veteran By Thiago Lemos
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The Brazilian João Fonseca met his first opponent this Wednesday in the Masters 1,000 of Madri. Aos 19 years old, the current number 31 in the world will face the Croatian veteran Marin Cilic, 37 years old. The match, valid for the second round of the Spanish tournament, marks the first meeting between the athletes on the professional circuit. Cilic secured the spot after beating the Belgian Zizou Bergs with odds of 4/6, 6/3 and 6/4.
Fonseca enters the competition directly in the second phase as it is among the top seeds. The clash represents a sharp generational clash on the ATP circuit. Quando the young man from Rio was born in 2006, the Croatian had already accumulated two years of presence in the professional world rankings. The duel is scheduled to take place this Friday, at a time that has yet to be confirmed by the organization of the event in the Spanish capital.
Histórico from João Fonseca against veteran tennis players
The Brazilian’s record against players aged 30 or over is a factor of optimism for the national fans. Até At the moment, the young man has played 15 official matches against athletes in this age group and emerged victorious on 10 occasions. The success rate above 65% demonstrates tactical maturity to deal with the experience of rivals.
João Fonseca’s last loss to a veteran came six months ago, in October of last year. On that occasion, the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp overcame the Brazilian in the opening round of Bruxelas’s ATP 250. Desde then, Fonseca racked up significant triumphs that helped him jump up the world rankings. The strategy of using the power of your shots from the ground has been efficient against players who prioritize the pace of the game.
Currículo by Marin Cilic commands respect on clay
Marin Cilic is not only an experienced opponent, but one of the most successful names still active in men’s tennis. With 21 titles won in his career, he occupies fifth place on the list of biggest winners among players who have not retired. Ele appears second only to new and old school stars like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev.
- Campeão from US Open in 2014
- Silver Medalhista in doubles in Olimpíadas of Tóquio
- Vencedor by Copa Davis by Croácia in 2018
- Ex-number 3 in the ATP world rankings
- Finalista of Wimbledon and Australian Open
The Croatian’s technical peak occurred in 2014, when he broke the dominance of the so-called Big Four to lift the cup in Nova York. Além of individual success, Cilic is known for social work with his philanthropic foundation. The institution supports Croatian children with educational projects and encouraging sports. Atualmente in 51st position in the rankings, he is looking to recover ground after facing injuries in recent seasons.
Sequência in the calendar includes preparatory tournament in Hamburgo
Independentemente of the result in Madri, the João Fonseca planning for the European clay season has already been drawn up. The organization of Hamburgo’s ATP 500 confirmed the Brazilian’s participation in this year’s edition. The German tournament will be held between May 16th and 23rd and serves as final preparation for Roland Garros. The competition in Hamburgo will have a high level of difficulty with the presence of several world elite athletes.
The list of entries for the event at Alemanha has four tennis players who appear in the top-10 of the ATP. Alexander Zverev, current number 3 in the world, will play at home as the main favorite for the title. His Além, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Musetti are confirmed in the draw. Para Fonseca, these weeks are crucial to consolidate your position among the best in the world and seek a place as seed in the French Grand Slam.
