Brazil, 2006, US Open: Everything you always wanted to know about Joao Fonseca (but never had time to find out) – updated after winning 2024 Next Gen Finals title
The Brazilian teen is a former junior world No 1 and Grand Slam winner. He is now making his ascent up the pro ranks
Joao Fonseca at the 2023 US Open
Image Credit: Charles Krupa/AP/SIPA
Who is Joao Fonseca?
Joao Fonseca is professional tennis player who competes on the ATP Tour, representing Brazil.
How old is Joao Fonseca?
Fonseca was born on August 21, 2006, which makes him 18 years old.
Which country is Fonseca from?
Fonseca was born in Rio de Janeiro and plays for Brazil.
Did Joao Fonseca QUALIFY FOR the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals?
Yes, and not only that, Joao Fonseca won the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals title, despite having been the last man to qualify. At the age of 18 years and three months, he was the second youngest man ever to win the tournament, behind Jannik Sinner, who was 18 years and two months when he won it in 2019.
Fonseca won all his matches in the Blue Group and then beat Luca van Assche of France in straight sets to reach the final, where he beat American Learner Tien in what was a rematch of their group-stage match.
Fonseca became the lowest-ranked player to win the title and the first Brazilian to do so.
Was Fonseca a good junior?
Yes. Fonseca was the world’s top-ranked junior male at the end of the 2023 season. He won the 2023 US Open boys singles title, beating Learner Tien in the final. He also reached the final of the 2023 Australian Open boys’ doubles event with Alexander Blockx.
When did Fonseca turn pro?
After his results in the LatAm Golden Swing, which included a quarter-final run at the Rio Open, Fonseca announced his decision to turn pro.
“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,” Fonseca, who was committed to play college tennis at the University of Virginia, wrote in a post on social media.
What did Fonseca accomplish at the 2024 Rio Open?
Playing in front of his home crowd, 17-year-old Joao Fonseca became the second youngest player to reach the quarter-finals of an ATP 500 Series event (the youngest being Alexander Zverev who made the last eight in Hamburg in 2014 as a 17-year-old).
The Brazilian defeated Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-0, 6-4 in the first round to become the first player born in 2006 or later to win an ATP Tour main draw match. The win also marked his first ATP Tour main draw victory and his first over a top 50 player.
He followed that with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Cristian Garin, of Chile, to move into the last eight.
What is his best performance at the Grand Slams?
Fonseca has yet to play a Grand Slam on the pro tour. As a junior, he won the US Open junior boys singles title with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 over Learner Tien.
How tall is Joao Fonseca?
According to the official ATP website, Fonseca is 1.85m or 6ft 1 inch tall.
Who is Joao Fonseca’s coach?
The Brazilian is currently coached by Guilherme Teixeira.
How much prize money has he won in his career?
As of December 21, 2024, Fonseca has won $292,146 in prize money. You can find his updated prize money stats on his ATP Tour profile page.
What is Fonseca’s highest ranking?
The Brazilian’s highest ranking has been No 145, which he first achieved in November, 2024. You can find his current ranking and rankings history on his ATP Tour profile page.
IS Fonseca ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
Fonseca is present on social networks. On Instagram, he has more than 170,000 followers.
