Fonseca makes a lot of mistakes, but reacts and advances after Fokina's abandonment in Cincinnati

Fonseca and Fokina traded breaks in the second and third games, and after that, the match was even, with both servers holding a significant advantage. In the ninth game, however, the Brazilian found himself under pressure, serving at 15-30 after double-faulting. Fokina capitalized, attacking with two good forehands and earning a pair of break points. João saved the first by attacking with a forehand and forcing an error from his opponent, but missed a forehand in the next point, and the Spaniard got the break.

Next, the roles reversed. Fokina double-faulted, leaving the score at 15-30, and Fonseca fired a forehand winner to earn two break points. The Spaniard saved the first with an ace, and the Brazilian missed a forehand on the second. Fokina gave up a third chance with a missed volley, and Fonseca broke on the next point, making it 5-5. The decision only came in the tiebreak, and the European took the lead, going 3-0. Fokina maintained his mini-break advantage, making it 5-2. João confirmed both serves and pulled close, leaving the score at 5-4, but he couldn't win a point on Fokina's serve, which closed the set at 7-6(4).

João finished the set with 23 unforced errors (14 forehands), but it was with a backhand error that the Brazilian lost serve in the second game of the second set. Things got even more complicated when Fonseca, facing another break point, missed an easy forehand. Fokina went up 4-0, and the match seemed headed for a quick end, but the Brazilian fought back, returning both breaks and making the score 4-3 when the Spaniard missed a simple forehand. Shortly after, the set was tied at 4-4, and Fokina was experiencing physical problems. The Spaniard went to serve in the ninth game and, unable to move well, was broken again. He then went to the net and retired.