Fonseca’s home debut at UTS ends in Kyrgios sweep as Guto Miguel eyes Final Four run

Joao Fonseca’s UTS Tour debut ended in early elimination on Day 2 of UTS Rio presented by XP, a night that began with the loudest ovation of the week and finished in a 37-minute blowout.

The Brazilian No. 2 seed opened by beating Tallon Griekspoor 3-1 in quarters (9-19, 14-13, 17-10, 18-9), rallying from a heavy opening-quarter loss to close out the match on the back of a serve efficiency above 58 percent. Hours later, in the day’s final Melee tie, Fonseca was swept 0-3 by Nick Kyrgios (16-11, 17-10, 19-11), who won all three quarter points and converted all three of his bonus cards, out-scoring the Brazilian 52 points to 32 overall.

“Nick played better for sure, better in the important points, and he has a good serve, I think he fits well in this format,” Fonseca said afterward, adding that the crowd’s support “motivates me to keep going” regardless of the result.

Guto Miguel tops the group

The result eliminated Fonseca on point differential and confirmed the last two automatic qualifiers: Guto Miguel, who beat Brandon Nakashima 3-2 (13-12, 19-8, 12-18, 11-14, 2-0 SD), and Francisco Cerundolo, who beat Cameron Norrie 3-0 (16-12, 15-12, 17-8). Nakashima advanced anyway, edging into fourth on quarter average.

Final Melee standings: Guto Miguel tops the group at 2-0 (plus-two quarter differential), ahead of Kyrgios (1-1, also plus-two) on match wins. Cerundolo (1-1, plus-one) takes third over Nakashima (1-1, also plus-one) on point differential. Eliminated are Norrie, Griekspoor and Fonseca – all 1-1 at minus-one – separated by point differential, with Moutet (0-2, minus-three) finishing last.

With Fonseca out, the pressure of a home crowd that filled the Maracanazinho for two straight nights shifts to Guto Miguel, who beat Kyrgios in Sudden Death on Thursday before beating Nakashima the same way on Friday. “Tennis without emotion is not tennis,” the 17-year-old said of his second decider in two days. “I just like to play tough matches.”

RESULTS DAY 1:

Griekspoor d. Moutet 3-2 (14-11, 13-14, 16-11, 10-15, 3-2 SD)
Nakashima d. Cerundolo 3-1 (13-11, 10-18, 16-15, 12-11)
Guto Miguel d. Kyrgios 3-2 (21-12, 15-10, 13-16, 15-21, 2-0 SD)
Norrie d. Moutet 3-1 (14-12, 21-9, 12-14, 16-14)

RESULTS DAY 2:

Guto Miguel d. Nakashima 3-2 (13-12, 19-8, 12-18, 11-14, 2-0 SD)
Fonseca d. Griekspoor 3-1 (9-19, 14-13, 17-10, 18-9)
Cerundolo d. Norrie 3-0 (16-12, 15-12, 17-8)
Kyrgios d. Fonseca 3-0 (16-11, 17-10, 19-11)