Brazilian tennis player João Fonseca was defeated by Chilean Alejandro Tabilo 2 sets to 1 in the debut of the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires on Wednesday (February 11, 2026), remaining winless this year. As the current tournament champion, he faced challenges after injuries that hampered his preparation.
João Fonseca, world number 33, continued his winless streak in 2026 by being eliminated in the first round of the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires. On Wednesday (February 11), the 18-year-old Brazilian lost to Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, ranked 71st, 2 sets to 1, with scores of 6/3, 3/6, and 7/5.
Fonseca, the current champion of the Argentine tournament, had a tough start in the first set, committing frequent errors and struggling to find his game against left-handed Tabilo, who led 4-1 and won 6/3. In the second set, the Brazilian fought back, broke his opponent's serve, and dictated the pace to level the match with a 6/3 victory.
The third set was tightly contested, with both players holding early serves and trading points. Tabilo reached three match points, but Fonseca stayed in the contest until falling 7/5.
This marked Fonseca's second first-round exit of the year, following his loss at the Australian Open to American Eliot Spizzirri. He ended 2025 at 24th in the rankings, but a back injury forced him to withdraw from Adelaide and Brisbane, disrupting his match rhythm. He now heads back to his hometown for the Rio Open, from February 14 to 22.
