Argentina Open 2026: Defending champion Fonseca loses in second round

Joy will certainly not be Brazilian at the 2026 Argentina Open. Defending champion Joao Fonseca (ATP singles ranked 33) was ousted in his debut, falling to Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo (71) by 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. The Rio de Janeiro native cut a very different image compared to his last appearance in Buenos Aires, trading the swirling curls and swaggering confidence for a more businesslike look and less exuberant — but not more accurate — shotmaking. Despite fiery support from a big contingent of Brazilian fans, Fonseca relinquished his serve twice in the first set, allowing an erratic but persistent Tabilo to gain the lead. The Brazilian looked more composed in the second set, cashing in on more of his chances to take the game to a third set. Fonseca’s mistakes returned in the decider. Serving at 5-6 to take the match to a tiebreak, poor shot selection showed his nervousness. The Brazilian saved two match points, but the third time was the charm for Tabilo, who’ll face Tomás Etcheverry in Friday’s quarterfinals. “It’s one of the biggest wins of my career,” the Chilean said after the match. “Especially getting it here, in Buenos Aires, with my girlfriend who’s from Argentina and the whole family in the stands.” He thanked the local crowd for their support, adding he “never imagined” getting this far into the tournament. Francisco Cerúndolo (19) wrapped up the night shift by beating Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien by 6-0, 7-6 (6). The 27-year-old started off in blistering form but allowed some mistakes to creep into his game in the second set. Asked if he had dropped his level in the second set or if Dellien had improved his, Cerúndolo insisted it was “a bit of both.” “I was solid in the first set, and I think he was giving away too many easy points,” Cerúndolo said. “He started playing better in the second set. Maybe because he felt he had nothing to lose, he started attacking more, and it was tricky to deal with that.” He’ll now go up against Czech Vit Kopriva (95) on Friday. Echeverry wins 3-hour battle Day shift action at the Guillermo Vilas Center Court started on a high note. Tomás Etcheverry (54) beat Román Burruchaga (104) 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), and 6-4 in a 3-hour, 41-minute marathon match that had fans at the edge of their seats. A back-and-forth battle from the outset, Etcheverry looked comfortable from the baseline, attacking and dictating most of the game. Burruchaga, meanwhile, sought to make him overcommit and break his opponent’s rhythm with flicks and touches. With neither able to push for an advantage, it went to the tiebreak, where Etcheverry was able to find gaps. The second set was more of the same. Etcheverry had the chance to serve out the match at 6-5, but Burruchaga took advantage of a gap in his rival’s concentration and was later able to take the second set in the tiebreak. Etcheverry took his rival’s serve twice in the third, but a comeback appeared inevitable as Burruchaga saved two match points to extend the match. It was to no avail, as the La Plata native sealed the deal with his serve on the second time of asking. “Matches like this you play mostly with your head,” Etcheverry said after the match. “You focus on making good decisions and playing to your strengths. It was an incredibly long match, but in key moments it’s all about your head.” Etcheverry admitted he failed to achieve “any of his goals” in a 2025 season he called “tough, both personally and tennis-wise.”  “The last three months were the best, and I feel like I’m carrying that on,” he said. “If I keep on this path, the ranking will fix itself. I feel healthy, eager, and hungry.” Uninspiring Berrettini out, Navone through Wednesday was also Matteo Berrettini’s (58) second appearance at the Argentina Open, as he took on Kopriva. The 2021 Wimbledon finalist, looking uninspired, sluggish, and inaccurate with his shotmaking, ended up losing by 6-4, 6-3. Mariano Navone (73) also made his debut in the tournament, comfortably defeating U.S. player Emilio Nava (81) 6-2, 6-1 after a little over an hour. He’ll face off against Camilo Ugo Carabelli (47) on Thursday. Cover photo: Joao Fonseca