Two debutants on fire in Jeddah! Both Joao Fonseca (BRA) and Learner Tien (USA) got off to a winning start at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals. 18-year-old Fernando created history yesterday, becoming the first Brazilian to compete at the Next Gen ATP Finals. In his first match, he secured a hard-fought victory against world no. 20, Arthur Fils (FRA). On the other hand, Tien also won against the Czech Republic’s Jakub Mensik in the first match. Now, both Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien are set to take on each other on day 2! Who will win this epic battle between two in-form youngsters?

Joao Fonseca vs Learner Tien: Preview

Joao Fonseca started his season by reaching the SF of the Challenger Buenos Aires, AR. Then, his most impressive performance came at the Challenger Asuncion, PY; he reached the final there but was defeated by his compatriot, Gustavo Heide, in a three-set thriller. Fonseca defeated Arthur Fils by 3(9)-4,4-2,4-1,1-4,4-1 in the first match, so, can he keep his winning run intact in Jeddah?

The 19-year-old American rising star, Learner Tien, also had an outstanding season this year, mainly on the Challenger Tour. He has won quite a few titles this season; earlier this year, Tien defeated another Next Gen star, Nishesh Basavareddy, in the final of the Challenger Bloomfield Hills, US, by 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Another of his noteworthy performances came at the Winston-Salem Open, where he reached the QF, starting his campaign pretty well by Mensik by 4-3(6),4-3(3),2-4,2-4,4-3(8). Now, it’ll be interesting to see what the scoreline will be in his next match.

Fonseca vs Tien: Head-to-Head

Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien have faced each other only twice so far in their careers. Currently, the H2H record between these two rising stars is well poised at 1-1! Who’ll have the last laugh in their third encounter?

• 2023 French Open Juniors QF: Tien 6-3,2-6,6-1.
• 2023 US Open Juniors Final: Fonseca 4-6,6-4,6-3.

Prediction: Tien to win in five sets

Learner Tien (122) has been in red-hot form this season! He has an overall win-loss record of 61-12 this season, and on the other hand, his opponent in the second match at the Next Gen ATP Finals, Joao Fonseca (145), has a win-loss record of just 31-22. So, considering this factor, the American might have a slight upper hand in this contest. However, let’s not forget that both of them are entering this match after clinching victories against two strong opponents in their previous matches. So, looking at this aspect, this match has all the possibilities of going a little deeper than expected.

Now, looking at their playing styles, Joao Fonseca has an aggressive style of play—he has a good forehand, which can be very penetrating at times and can also hit it with heavy spin. This is one of his lethal weapons, and he causes a few troubles for the American with this in the next match. Apart from that, Joao Fonseca can also generate a decent amount of power and spin with his backhand. On the other hand, the left-handed Tien is known for his incredible backhand shots. His backhand shots are known for their power and precision.

Learner Tien often favors playing on the hard courts to match his aggressive style of play with the surface’s speed. His dynamic approach, combined with quick footwork, enables him to respond effectively to various playing conditions. So, Tien’s all-court style of play and dangerous shot variety can throw some real challenges toward Fonseca, possibly keeping him ahead in this mega battle!

What’s your prediction for the Joao Fonseca vs. Learner Tien match? Share below.