Australian Open 2025 results: Carlos Alcaraz says Joao Fonseca will be on ‘list of best players very soon'”
At the beginning of 2024, Fonseca was ranked 730th in the world, but by the end of the year, he had jumped to the top 150.
He captured the attention of tennis fans by reaching the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 event in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro and the ATP 250 event in Bucharest.
The teenager truly established himself as one of the best newcomers by winning December’s Next Generation ATP Finals, an event for the best male players 21 and under.
Current world number one Jannik Sinner won the event in 2019 and is the only player to do so at a younger age than Fonseca.
In fact, Sinner convinced Fonseca to turn pro while serving as the Italian’s hitting partner at the 2023 ATP Finals.
Fonseca proved his potential against Rublev, dominating the match with a powerful forehand and hitting 51 winners to the Russian’s 33.
“I’ve enjoyed every moment on this amazing pitch and it’s my first time playing in a huge stadium,” Fonseca said.
Fonseca is only the second teenager since 1973 to defeat a top-10 opponent in his first Grand Slam match, after Mario Ancic beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2002.
During the on-court interview, when asked how much it costs to have his talent, Fonseca mentioned 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer, who replied: “Like Roger said, without hard work, talent is not enough.
“My idol has always been Roger, I grew up watching Roger. Everyone wanted to play like him and I even tried one-handed (backhand) for a week when I was younger.”
Fonseca will face Lorenzo Sonego of Italy, who is ranked 57 places higher, in the second round on Thursday.
“Of course my expectations are bigger now,” Fonseca said. “I want more and more and I think that’s the mentality of a champion.”
