Breaking through: Get to know Joao Fonseca, one of the rising stars of men’s tennis

An in-depth look at some of the hottest young players on the ATP Tour who showed up at the Australian Open. No 2: Joao Fonseca

5 March 2025

Imago / Psnewz

Simon Cambers

Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca arguably shines the brightest of all the youngsters currently breaking through, having won the Next Gen ATP Finals and clinching his maiden ATP title at the Argentina Open, all at the age of just 18 years old.

Over the last six months, tennis fans have been given a glimpse of what the men’s game might look like in another 10 to 15 years, as a crop of future stars have surfaced to pique the imagination of fans everywhere. Yes, we know Jannik Sinner is just 23, and Carlos Alcaraz is still 21, but what about the fresh-faced youngsters who are already starting to surface as potential rivals?

Over the next few weeks, Tennis Majors will be shining a light on the new wave of young talent that could one day rise to prominence.

Today we will look at Fonseca, a young Brazilian already taking the world by storm.

Who is JOAO FONSECA?

Fonseca is a young Brazilian player who seems set on making his way to the very top. Born in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, on August 21, 2006, he began playing tennis at the age of four. His father, Christiano, is the CEO and founder of IP Capital Partners, the first independent hedge fund in Brazil, so he’s had certain advantages and privileges as he’s made his way through the ranks.

His talent, though, shone through at an early age. He won the US Open junior title in 2023 and finished the year ranked No 1 while still just 17. He made his ATP debut in 2023, in Rio de Janeiro, and a year later, he won his first ATP matches in the same event, going on to reach the quarter-finals, beating Arthur Fils and Cristian Garin in the process.

Until that point, he had been booked to go to the University of Virginia but he decided to turn professional instead, announcing the decision on Instagram.

“It was an incredibly tough decision for me and my family as I have been dreaming about living a college life in Charlottesville, playing the sport that l love with a wonderful team and coach, but, in the last months, professional tennis called me in a way that I simply couldn’t say no,” wrote Fonseca, who was already ranked No 343 by that time.

Later in 2024, Fonseca explained that Sinner, the world No 1, had given him a few words of encouragement when he was the hitting partner at the ATP Finals the previous year. “He said to me, ‘Are you going to university?’,” Fonseca said. “He said: ‘You are too good for this, go to pros’. So that was a nice thing. I thought this guy was kidding me and playing a joke.”

By the end of 2024, he was ranked 145 and announced himself by winning the Next Gen Finals, beating Learner Tien in the finals, having been the youngest player, and the lowest-ranked player in the field.

What Defines FONSECA’s Game?

There’s a little of Roger Federer, a bit of Rafael Nadal, and a touch of Novak Djokovic in the game of Fonseca, which is not a bad start. The Brazilian has thunderous groundstrokes but is equally comfortable coming forward, showing nice skills at the net. His serve is strong, with his second serve particularly impressive at the Australian Open this year, where he made his real breakthrough.

His groundstrokes, though, are something else. He crushes the ball on both sides, his forehand especially dominant, and he moves as well as anyone out there.

At the age of 18, he seems to have no weaknesses and while everything can be improved, his base is so solid that little can go wrong, technically. He’s strong under pressure and really seems to love the big moments, which will stand him in good stead as he progresses to the highest level. When his opponents drop anything even a little short, he’s all over it.

And, like Carlos Alcaraz, he seems to absolutely love playing tennis. While that might seem a given, many players don’t look like they’re enjoying things that much; Fonseca has the game, head and temperament to allow him to actually take in just how good he is.

What are fonseca’s best achievements to date?

Having ended 2024 by winning the Next Gen Finals, Fonseca came into this year with confidence but he was still not that well known. That all changed at the Australia Open in January 2025 when, on his Grand Slam debut, he beat ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets with the kind of performance that made everyone sit up and take notice.

Fonseca looked like he belonged out there on the biggest stage, taking the match to Rublev, a seasoned campaigner who usually overpowers his opponents. Instead, Fonseca outplayed him in every department and held his nerve when he needed to, finishing the match off in a second tiebreak.

“I was trying to not put pressure on myself, playing with a top 10 guy in a huge stadium,” he said. “Trying to call the crowd to help me. I just enjoyed playing my game. That’s one thing about myself, is that I play better in the important points, I go for my shots. That was the difference today.”

Fonseca was beaten in round two, by Lorenzo Sonego of Italy in a five-setter, but didn’t let his head drop. The following month, he won his first ATP Tour title, marching through the draw in Buenos Aires and beating Francisco Cerundolo in the final to become the 10th-youngest man to win an ATP Tour title.

What are others saying about FONSECA?

Novak Djokovic met Fonseca for the first time at the Australian Open but has been keeping an eye on his performances, it seems.

“I’ve been following his rise, and I just love how he plays the big points. Courageous, very clean hitter, all-around player,” Djokovic said in Melbourne.

“I’ve been a fan of his game. I’ve been watching him also last year. He’s got the goods definitely. He showed that last night (against Rublev) on a big stage to go very far. Future is bright for him, no doubt, if he keeps going this way.”

Andy Murray is clearly a fan. Writing on X after Fonseca’s win in Argentina, the former world No 1 said: “Can’t wait for the first Fonseca vs Alcaraz match.”

And Stefanos Tsitsipas said his character was equally as impressive as his talent. “I was convinced that he would be someone who would achieve great results in the coming months,” he said, having spent time with him in Halle last summer. “I think this is just the beginning of his journey and that he will continue to rise in the rankings, showing his great potential. I am very happy for him, he is a very humble guy. That’s what I liked the most, seeing how grounded he is and the determination he has regarding his goals. That struck me. I believe he will do great things in the upcoming seasons if he maintains his personality, I don’t see why not.”

How far can he go?

All the way. You never know what will happen with injuries but if he stays away from serious issues, it seems only a matter of time before Fonseca will be competing at the back end of Grand Slam events.

He has the game, the temperament and the big-time mentality to get things done on the biggest stages. He’s only going to get better and in the next couple of years, playing carefree all over the world, he’s going to be a big danger to all of the top players.

Already ranked just outside the top 60, it won’t be long before he breaks the top 50 and if he’s not inside the top 20, pushing for the top 10 by the end of the year, it would be a surprise. That’s how good he is.

Watch him at Indian Wells

Fonseca will next compete at Indian Wells this week, his first appearance in the Californian desert. He’ll face fellow rising young player Jacob Fearnley in the first round, with the winner taking on Jack Draper in the round of 64.