Khachanov Halts Fonseca in Paris Second Round After Basel Breakthrough

The 19-year-old’s surge continues to reshape his ranking prospects despite a three-set defeat to the tournament’s 2018 champion.

Overview

Karen Khachanov beat Joao Fonseca 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the Paris Masters last 16, snapping the Brazilian teenager’s post-Basel winning run.
Fonseca opened in Paris with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 comeback over Denis Shapovalov just two days after capturing his first ATP 500 title in Basel.
Following the Shapovalov win he took a medical timeout for back and left-thigh tightness and said afterward the discomfort was minor.
The Basel title lifted him to a career-high No. 28, and the Paris win over Shapovalov pushed him to No. 24 in the Live Rankings, bolstering his 2026 Australian Open seeding chances.
Tournament reports noted he is the third-youngest ATP 500 winner in the series and cited claims he is the first Brazilian to win a Masters 1000 match.