Prediction published on 12/19/24, 11:41 AM
 by
Lou Aguila

|
Modified on
12/19/24
at 1:33 PM

in

Tennis Picks

Joao Fonseca of Brazil faces Learner Tien of the United States with the winner clinching a spot in semifinal of the 2024 NextGen Finals on Thursday in King Abdullah, Sports Complex. Fonseca pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of this Under-20 tournament as he defeated world No.20 Arthur Fils 3–4(9–11), 4–2, 4–1, 1–4, 4–1. The prodigy from Brazil overcame Fils’ aggressive game by breaking four times and winning 73 percent of his first serves. It marked Fonseca’s 12th career win over a top-20 player on the ATP Tour. Learner Tien gave Jakub Mensik a lesson he will never forget after the up-and-coming American delivered a 4–3(8–6), 4–3(7–3), 2–4, 2–4, 4–3(10–8) upset over the Czech. Tien survived Mensik’s 24 aces by winning the points that counted the most in the match. Tien earned his first ever win over a top-50 player on the ATP Tour.