Next Gen guns take a different path to Workday Canberra International semis

A pair of 18-year-olds advanced to the semifinals today, but in different ways.

Spain’s Martin Landaluce advanced without hitting a ball after Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki withdrew due to a left knee injury.

Brazil’s Next Gen champion Joao Fonseca was made to do some work to earn his spot, defeating France’s Harold Mayot 6-2, 6-3.

Fonseca had a break point in the opening game of the match after hitting a powerful backhand that forced an error from Mayot. The Brazilian was unable to convert on that occasion but a double fault gifted him another opportunity.

A stunning cross court forehand winner from Fonseca claimed the second opportunity.

Mayot, the world no. 116 immediately had a break back opportunity after Fonseca’s shot clipped the net and went wide. It was saved with a backhand winner, shortly after the game was in the bag for the Brazilian and he was up 2-0.

Another winner on a break point took the Brazilian to a 4-1 lead.

From there, three service holds saw the set claimed by Fonseca 6-2.

Mayot had four break point opportunities but was unable to convert any. Fonseca had three and converted two.

Fonseca again broke early after Mayot netted a forehand to give the break point. Again a shot into the net from the Frenchman conceded the game.

On this occasion Mayot was able to break back immediately after Fonseca hit long when facing a break point.

Mayot would lead in a set for the first time when he held for 2-1. Another unforced error and Mayot had a look at two break points with Fonseca serving at 15-40. An Ace saved the first, but a missed volley saw Fonseca broken again.

Mayot was now leading 3-1. The Frenchman would not win another game with the final score being 6-2, 6-3.

Great Britain’s Jacob Fearnley was made to work hard in a two hour 14 minute clash against Christopher Eubanks from the USA. The Brit taking the match 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(3).

In the deciding set there were two breaks points against Fearnley and seven against Eubanks, none were converted.

Fearnley got the first mini break in the opening point, only too see that taken back immediately. A good wide serve setup the next point for Fearnley to have an easy volley for a winner.

Eubanks shanked a backhand that went wide to give another mini break to his opponent. From there the Brit pulled away after hitting a winner to move to 4-2.

It will be interesting to see how fresh Fearnley is tomorrow after he also played a doubles match today. In June 2024 Fearnley won his maiden Challenger title in Nottingham, he would add a further three titles and jump into the top-100.

Landaluce will play a qualifier from the USA, Ethan Quinn. The 20-year-old making his first visit to Australia defeated Vit Kopriva from the Czech Republic 6-4, 7-5 to book his spot against the Spaniard.

Quinn has quietly made his way through the draw from qualifying. The American broke in the fourth game to lead 3-1. Kopriva broke back to serve at 2-3.

Quinn held serve to go to 5-4 and then he broke to take the opening set after Kopriva netted a shot.

The American didn’t face a break point in the second set and had a chance to close it out in the 10th game. It would take another two games before he claimed his semifinal spot.

Quinn won his maiden Challenger title at the CH75 Champaign tournament last November.

Fonseca recently won the Next Gen title and has joined two illustrious players to claim the title as 18-year-olds. They include Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

Semi matchups

Joao Fonseca (BRA) world no. 145 v (6) Jacob Fearnley (GBR) world no. 99.
Martin Landaluce (ESP) world no. 151 v (Q) Ethan Quinn (USA) world no. 202.