Brazilian teenager João Fonseca wins his first tour-level tennis title

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Rising tennis star João Fonseca finished “an unbelievable week” with a straight sets victory over Francisco Cerúndolo in the Argentina Open final on Sunday to claim his first tour-level title.

The 18-year-old Brazilian, who won the Next Gen ATP Finals last December, beat his Argentine opponent 6-4, 7-6 (1) on clay.

Local fans in Buenos Aires provided a lively atmosphere at the final of the ATP 250 event which at times resembled an Argentina vs. Brazil soccer match.

“This was just an unbelievable week for me,” said Fonseca, who beat ninth-ranked Andrey Rublev in the first round of the Australian Open in January and is already looking to the future.

“Of course I want to be No. 1, of course I want to win Slams, titles," he added, “but my dream is just to play tennis, and I am living it.”

The elite men's tennis tour said Fonseca became the first man born in 2006 or later to win an ATP trophy, the 10th youngest champion in ATP Tour history and the youngest South American player to win a title in the ATP Tour era (since 1990).

Fonseca will rise to No. 68 in the rankings on Monday.

One of his likely rivals in the near future also spoke about Fonseca's title in Buenos Aires.

“Impressive, Joao,” Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old, four-time major champion, posted X.

Earlier, former player and three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray used the same social media platform to boost the potential rivalry.

“Can't wait for the first Fonseca vs Alcaraz match,” he said.

Former No.1 Boris Becker was also excited about the Brazilian's performance: “Watch this young man from Brazil. The sky is the limit...”

Next week, Fonseca will play at home at the Rio Open tournament, an ATP 500. Last year, he reached the quarterfinals.

Fonseca's first adversary will be Frenchman Alexandre Muller, currently the 58th-best ranked. Their match is scheduled for Tuesday.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Brazil's Joao Fonseca poses with the trophy after defeating Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo during a men's doubles final match at the Argentina Open ATP tennis tournament at Guillermo Vilas Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Fans of Brazil's Joao Fonseca cheer during a men's doubles final match against Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo at the Argentina Open ATP tennis tournament at Guillermo Vilas Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Brazil's Joao Fonseca celebrates after defeating Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo during a men's doubles final match at the Argentina Open ATP tennis tournament at Guillermo Vilas Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Brazil's Joao Fonseca poses with the trophy after defeating Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo in a men's doubles final match at the Argentina Open ATP tennis tournament at Guillermo Vilas Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 28 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 of his 25 in the second half and the New York Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 on Saturday night in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.

OG Anunoby added 18 points and Josh Hart had 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks in their first postseason game under Mike Brown after making four trips in five years under Tom Thibodeau, capped by their first trip to the Eastern Conference finals since 2000 last year.

The No. 3 seed in the East again this season hosts Game 2 on Monday night.

CJ McCollum had 26 points and Jalen Johnson added 23 for the Hawks, who went 20-6 after the All-Star break to earn the No. 6 seed.

Brunson, who already owns the Knicks' record with eight 40-point games in the postseason, was almost halfway to another in the first quarter. He made his first six shots and had 19 points as the Knicks led 30-24. McCollum had 12 points in the second as Atlanta cut it to 57-55.

Brunson didn't do as much in the second half, but Towns took over after he was just 1 for 6 for six points at the break.

The teams got off to sizzling starts, with the Knicks opening 8 for 9 and Atlanta starting 6 for 7, before play eventually slowed to a crawl in the third quarter. McCollum was reviewed for a hostile act and called for a technical foul after kicking his leg up on a jumper into Brunson's groin area, and the Hawks twice intentionally fouled backup center Mitchell Robinson, and the poor foul shooter went 1 for 4.

By the time the Hawks got going again, it was too late.

With the Knicks up by eight, Towns hit a 3-pointer, and after Gabe Vincent's basket, Jordan Clarkson had two buckets and Towns had a three-point play and a 3-pointer for a 10-0 burst that made it 106-87 with about 4 1/2 minutes remaining.

Atlanta ran off 11 straight to cut it to 106-98, but Towns scored to restore the double-digit lead.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives past Atlanta Hawks' Jonathan Kuminga (0) during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)