This should be an interesting match, with Brazilian wunderkind Joao Fonesca coming up against top seed Taylor Fritz. These two are now forever connected in the historical fabric of this event, with Joao Fonesca’s first-round win making him the youngest Eastbourne winner since Fritz in 2015.
2025 ATP Tour/ WTA Tour
ATP 250/ WTA 500
Lexus Eastbourne Open/ Bad Homburg Open
Selected Round of 16 Matches- 24th- 25th June
24th June
ATP 250- Lexus Eastbourne Open
Taylor Fritz (1) 0.37 vs Joao Fonesca 2.05
2024 US Open finalist Taylor Fritz brings a solid 21-11 record into this week’s event. He started the year well, helping guide American to a United Cup triumph (he also reached the semifinals in Miami). He struggled during the clay-court swing but unsurprisingly burst back into life on grass, winning his first title of the season in Stuttgart. Fritz- who has battled for consistency all season- was unceremoniously dumped out of Queens by the wily Moutet. Still, the two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist should feel confident of bouncing back in a tournament he adores. The defending Eastbourne champ has won this event on three occasions, using his big serve and emphatic forehand to dominate on these quick surfaces.
18-year-old Brazilian prodigy Joao Fonesca arrives with a decent 13-9 record for the season. The big-hitting Fonesca began the year in solid fashion, winning the Canberra Challenger before reaching the Aussie Open 2nd round (after coming through qualifying). He picked up a notable scalp in his Aussie Open first-round win, claiming his first top ten win against Andrey Rublev. He went on to win his maiden ATP Tour title at the Argentina Open. He won another Challenger in Phoenix but largely underwhelmed during the European clay-court swing. He’s 1-1 on grass this year, coming back from a set down to easily see off Zizou Bergs in his Eastbourne opener. Fonesca is rising fast, but this match will present some significant challenges.
The Verdict: Fritz to win in straight sets at 1– This will be their first career meeting. I think that Fritz’s booming serve and decisive forehand will make mincemeat of the up-and-coming NextGen star. Fonesca is still inexperienced on grass and Fritz will exploit that, approaching the net whenever he can.
