When an ornery gust of wind blew one of Joao Fonseca’s towels across the court and caused a let on a critical point in the second game of the Brazilian’s long awaited BNP Paribas Open debut, the 18-year-old didn’t bat an eye. 

He finished the game with two big serves, consolidating his break in the first game for a 2-0 lead over Great Britain’s Jacob Fearnley. 

The wind may have made it difficult for Fonseca to produce the breathtaking tennis he has become known for in his brief time on the ATP Tour, but he found a way to manage the gusty conditions and come away with a hard-earned 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory in his BNP Paribas Open debut. 

“It’s a pleasure being here on the Center Court at Indian Wells, it’s a dream,” Fonseca told the crowd after his win. “People call it the fifth Grand Slam and I can understand. It’s literally paradise. 

“I’m very grateful. Today was pretty difficult. A lot of wind – I got through, so I’m happy.”

Facing hard-hitting Fearnley, a former standout at Texas Christian University (TCU), for the first time, Fonseca was forced to take the circuitous route to the finish line. 

After pulling away and taking the opening set 6-2, Fonseca had to hold on tight in the second. He saved two break points and wiggled through a five-deuce game to hold for one-all but he couldn’t get through his next service game. 

When an inside-out forehand attempt sailed well wide of the sideline, Fearnley had a break for 3-1 and he quickly consolidated for 4-1. In the ensuing games the Brit, who finished with a whopping 23 forehand winners on the day, continued to put his stamp on the rallies, taking the play to Fonseca with heavy groundstrokes and minimizing his mistakes. 

Suddenly the court was slanted in the 23-year-old’s favor. 

“It was very windy, that’s why it was very difficult,” Fonseca said. “Second set he played more aggressively, and I was a bit more tight, maybe a bit more nervous. It's the first round so it’s normal.” 

Fearnley closed out the second set in style and continued to hold sway over the run of play in the third. After breaking for 2-1, his 17th forehand winner of the match gave the World No. 81 a pair of game points to consolidate for 3-1.  

Fearnley’s lead – and momentum – would be short-lived. Enlivened by his struggle, Fonseca took control of the tug-of-war and regained the upper hand. Fearnley dumped a double-fault into the net, inducing roars from many of Fonseca’s yellow-clad fans as he found himself back on serve at 3-3. 

He would break again in Fearnley’s next service game, as the Brit finally started to show cracks in his armor. Fearnley missed wildly on one attempt at a putaway smash that nearly decapitated Fonseca as it sailed all the way to the back fence. 

Court slanted firmly in his favor again, Fonseca closed out victory with a perfect backhand volley winner to end the contest in two hours. The Brazilian finished the day with 17 winners against 34 unforced errors, while Fearnley’s Indian Wells debut ended with 29 winners against 45 unforced errors. 

A stunning debut for both, but only Fonseca, who moves on to face Great Britain’s Jack Draper in the second round, will remember it fondly. 

American McDonald Scores First Masters Win Since ‘23 

It was a big day for former UCLA Bruin Mackenzie McDonald. The 29-year-old wild card battled past Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Stadium 2, notching a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory that represents his first Masters 1000 victory since 2003. The victory over the World No.39 is also his best win by ranking since the 2023 US Open. 

Nothing like a little trip to California for the Piedmont native. 

In other action Canadian Lucky Loser Gabriel Diallo saved a pair of match points to defeat China’s Zhang Zhizhen on Stadium 3, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(7). 

Diallo gets his first BNP Paribas Open win, and moves on to face Frenchman Arthur Fils in the second round. 

Jakub Mensik, 19, also advanced, defeating Tomas Martin Etcheverry, 6-4, 7-6(6).  Mensik will face 22nd-seeded Karen Khachanov next.