Ieb+ Argentina Open Predictions: Francisco Cerundolo Vs Joao Fonseca – Sunday 16 February 2025

Let’s have a look at all the career, performance and head-to-head stats for the match and find out if Francisco Cerundolo or Joao Fonseca is expected to win.

Match Details:

Francisco Cerundolo vs Joao Fonseca – Sunday 16 February 2025 – Ieb+ Argentina Open – Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Francisco Cerundolo vs Joao Fonseca Head-to-Head, Preview, Stats & Pick:

Head To Head First Meeting.

In a much-anticipated showdown at the IEB+ Argentina Open, Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina is set to face off against Joao Fonseca from Brazil. This will be their first meeting on the professional tennis circuit, adding an extra layer of excitement to the match.

Cerundolo, 26 years old and currently ranked World No. 28, has been making waves in the tennis world. In the year 2022, he broke into the Top 100 rankings an impressive 11 times and eventually reached a career-high ranking of No. 19 in June 2023. His breakthrough moment came when he reached the fourth round of the 2023 Roland Garros, defeating World No. 8 Taylor Fritz in the process.

His rise in the rankings continued when he defeated top-ranked players like Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev en route to his first ATP Tour title in Bastad and a semifinal appearance in Hamburg in consecutive weeks. Cerundolo’s success extended to different surfaces as well, as he became the first Argentine ATP Tour champion on grass since Martiniano Frana in 1995, clinching the title at the 2023 Eastbourne tournament.

Notable achievements in Cerundolo’s career include being the lowest-ranked semifinalist in the 37-year history of the Miami tournament, where he was ranked World No. 103 at the time. He also became the first player in ATP Masters 1000 history to reach the semifinals in his main draw debut since Jerzy Janowicz accomplished the feat in 2012 Paris.

It’s worth mentioning the influence of his family in his tennis journey. His father, Alejandro, was a professional tennis player, while his younger brother, Juan Manuel, won the 2021 Cordoba title. In addition, his sister, Constanza, achieved success in another sport, playing for the Argentine field hockey team that won a gold medal at the 2018 Youth Olympics.

Moving on to Joao Fonseca, an 18-year-old talent from Brazil, who is eagerly looking forward to his first ATP Tour final appearance. Currently ranked World No. 99, Fonseca has been on an upward trajectory since becoming the reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion. In September 2023, he reached the pinnacle of the junior rankings, claiming the World No. 1 spot. He then broke into the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings in January 2025 and achieved a career-high ranking of No. 98 in February 2025.

Fonseca’s breakthrough moment came at the 2025 Australian Open when he defeated World No. 9 Andrey Rublev in the first round as a qualifier. This victory made him the youngest man in PIF ATP Rankings history to defeat a Top 10 player at the Australian Open. His success continued as he went on to win the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals, joining the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as 18-year-old champions in the event’s history. This victory also made him the first South American champion at the tournament.

The young Brazilian talent has displayed impressive form on various occasions. In his hometown of Rio de Janeiro, Fonseca achieved his first ATP Tour win by defeating World No. 36 Arthur Fils in the first round of the 2024 Rio Open. He further showcased his potential by defeating the 2020 champion Cristian Garin in the second round, becoming the youngest Brazilian quarterfinalist in the Open Era. Additionally, Fonseca claimed the boys’ singles title at the 2023 US Open, solidifying his status as the World No. 1 junior player.

It’s fascinating to note that Fonseca has a connection to the Rio de Janeiro event long before his professional debut. As a 16-year-old wildcard entry, he made his ATP Tour debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2023, following in the footsteps of his idol Rafael Nadal, who had won the title there in 2014. Although he lost in the first round to Alex Molcan, this experience undoubtedly fueled his passion for the sport.

In terms of the matchup between Cerundolo and Fonseca, it is clear that Cerundolo holds the statistical advantage. Leading in eight out of the ten categories, including aces, first-serve percentage, and break points saved, Cerundolo seems to have the upper hand on paper. However, the outcome of the match will ultimately be determined by the players’ performance on the day.

For Cerundolo, this is an opportunity to secure his fourth ATP Tour title and his first on home soil, having previously reached the final at the same venue in 2021, only to lose to Diego Schwartzman. He also has the chance to become the seventh Argentine champion in the history of the tournament. Currently ranked No. 26 on the PIF ATP Live Rankings, a title win would see him jump to No. 24 and could potentially make him the first player to win an ATP Tour title on home soil this season, following in the footsteps of Ugo Humbert‘s victory in Marseille.

Fonseca, on the other hand, is playing in his first ATP Tour final and looking to make a significant mark. If he emerges victorious, Fonseca would become the tenth youngest champion in ATP Tour history and the first man born in 2006 or later to win an ATP Tour title. Additionally, he would be the lowest-ranked champion in the history of the event. Currently standing at No. 74 on the PIF ATP Live Rankings, a title win would propel him even further, potentially reaching the No. 68 spot. Furthermore, Fonseca is guaranteed to become the Brazilian No. 1 on Monday, marking a significant milestone in his career.

In conclusion, the match between Francisco Cerundolo and Joao Fonseca promises to be an exciting showdown between two talented players. Cerundolo’s experience and statistical advantage make him the favorite on paper, but Fonseca’s youth and hunger for success cannot be underestimated. As both players step onto the court at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, tennis enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the outcome and the potential for a new rising star to make their mark on the ATP Tour.

Francisco Cerundolo vs Joao Fonseca Prediction:

I believe Francisco Cerundolo will win in straight sets.
The Stevegtennis.com prediction algorithm has a much better success rate in picking
match winners than me!

So check out who it picks for this match here:
Stevegtennis.com Francisco Cerundolo vs Joao Fonseca prediction.