Brazilian enjoyed plenty of support in win against Coria

Brazilian #NextGenATP star Joao Fonseca has knocked out a home favourite for the second time in as many days at the IEB+ Argentina Open in Buenos Aires. After upsetting eighth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the opening round Wednesday, he earned a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory against lucky loser Federico Coria on Thursday at the ATP 250.

While the home fans were fully behind Coria, the popular Fonseca enjoyed plenty of support from the Brazilians and neutrals in what was an electric afternoon crowd in Argentina's capital.

Already the third-youngest man to win a match in tournament history, the 18-year-old is now the youngest quarter-finalist at the event since Richard Gasquet in 2004. Fonseca is through to his third tour-level quarter-final, taking full advantage of the Next Gen Accelerator spot — a programme that provides increased opportunities for players 20 and under to enter ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour events.

"For sure it was a tougher match," Fonseca said, comparing his opening two victories. "Yesterday I was feeling better on the court. Today I was not feeling very well, missing some balls, easy balls, a little bit more nervous. I'm very happy the way that I fought to the end, the mentality of staying positive and focusing on the good things, to make a change after the first set."

By reaching the quarters, Fonseca has moved up 11 places to No. 88 this week in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, setting himself up for a new career high.

In the pair's first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, Fonseca turned the tide by finding the range on his lethal forehand. A loose game from Coria early in the second set allowed the Brazilian to break at love for a 3-1 lead, and he saved the only two break points he faced for the rest of the match, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Brimming with confidence down the stretch, Fonseca ripped three forehands to hold for 4-2 and soon after sealed victory with his first ace of the match.

He will next meet second seed Holger Rune or Argentina's Mariano Navone in the quarter-finals, where he is joined by another Brazilian in Thiago Seyboth Wild.