Denis Shapovalov aimed to secure his first victory against the promising young Brazilian player.
The Canadian second seed began his match in Basel strong, taking an early 6-3 lead against Fonseca.
However, Fonseca was determined and managed to equalize the match, taking a set 6-3 after losing the first.
In an unexpected turn of events, Shapovalov retired while trailing 1-4 in the third set, seemingly out of the blue.
Denis Shapovalov Under Scrutiny After Abrupt Retirement Against Joao Fonseca
Completely caught off guard, spectators at Basel booed Shapovalov off the court as the peculiar final set came to an unsatisfying end.
Joao Fonseca Advances to His First ATP 500 Semifinal
With this win, Fonseca progresses towards his first semifinal appearance in an ATP 500 tournament. Earlier this year, he had already made headlines by claiming a title at the ATP 250 Argentina Open.
In the upcoming semifinal, Fonseca will face Spain’s Jaume Munar, who found luck when Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew.
