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last mo.

Tabilo Upsets Defending Champion João Fonseca in Buenos Aires Opener

The loss ends his title defense early, sending him to the Rio Open next week to rebuild form and ranking.

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Overview

  • World No. 33 João Fonseca fell to Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in the Buenos Aires round of 16, leaving him winless in 2026 after two matches.
  • Tabilo, ranked No. 71, improves his head‑to‑head against the 19‑year‑old to 2-0 after a prior victory in Bucharest in 2024.
  • Fonseca entered as the No. 3 seed with 25 points guaranteed but needed the title to retain the full 250 points from last year’s championship.
  • The Brazilian said he is fully fit after a pre‑season lumbar overload that forced withdrawals from Brisbane and Adelaide and preceded a first‑round Australian Open exit.
  • Withdrawals by Lorenzo Musetti and Gaël Monfils had opened the South American clay swing, but Fonseca now targets the ATP 500 Rio Open from Feb. 16–22 for a rebound.