Joao Fonseca vs Luca Van Assche Prediction Next Gen ATP Finals Tennis Picks 12/21/24

Joao Fonseca completed an unbeaten run in the group on his debut appearance at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals. He earned his second Top 50 win of the week by beating the already-eliminated Jakub Mensik of Czechia.

The match lasted two hours and 19 minutes and needed the full five sets. Rmarkably all sets were decided in tie-breaks. A reminder that the Next Gen ATP Finals has a unique format, with players playing a total of six games between them in a set.

In the victory, Fonseca hit 11 aces and two double faults. He landed 73% of first serves and won 77% of fist-serve points (62/81). The 18-year-old won 60% of second-serve points (18/30) and saved four of five break points.

Fonseca compiled 38 winners and 36 unforced errors in the contest.

Luca Van Assche Preview

Luca Van Assche won the decisive match in the other group to determine who finished second. He defeated the USA's Nishesh Basavareddy to make the semis for the second year in a row.

In the victory, which required four sets, Van Assche hit 11 aces and three double faults. He landed 62% of first serves and won 87% of first-serve points (39/45). 

Van Assche won 50% of second-serve points (14/28) and saved two of three break points. The Frenchman recorded 31 winners and 22 unforced errors.

Joao Fonseca vs Luca Van Assche Head-To-Head

• Fonseca and Van Assche have never met at any level before this, so this will be their first meeting.

• Fonseca is 9-4 on indoor hard throughout his career and hadn't played in these conditions before this year.

• Van Assche has a lifetime record of 56-46 under the roof.

Joao Fonseca vs Luca Van Assche Prediction

Maybe we are unearthing another precious gem at this tournament. As the first Brazilian to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals, Joao Fonseca is most certainly making a name for himself in Jeddah. Being undefeated in the group stage and beating two Top 50 players, including the top seed to get here, is a massive achievement.

The impressive thing about this run is that Fonseca was virtually untested and inexperienced on indoor hard courts before this week, having made his debut on the surface in September. I'm all on Fonseca for this one even with Van Assche having the greater proficiency under the roof. The Brazilian's big ball striking is reaping handsome rewards and he is unlikely to struggle to hit through the Frenchman.