Explosive, mature Fonseca a future superstar of men’s tennis
The 18-year-old Brazilian beat Andrey Rublev in round one and has everything to make it to the very top
Novak Djokovic beat Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday and will face No 26 seed Tomas Machac in the next round
While many young players burst onto the scene with a big win, tennis history is littered with false dawns. Even those who go on to have good careers may never hit the heights of that big first victory.
Sometimes you just know it. And though it’s still dangerous to get carried away, in Brazilian Joao Fonseca, it seems safe to say it out loud. Men’s tennis has a new superstar.
At 18, Fonseca produced a brilliant performance to beat ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets, 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (5). In his first Australian Open, his first Grand Slam main draw event, he took the match to Rublev and when the world No 9 threatened to come back, he didn’t panic, closing the door with a second brilliant tiebreak. Not only was it a stunning display of shot-making; it was also unbelievably mature. He belongs on this stage and it might not be too long before Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are looking over their shoulders.
Rublev’s smile at the end said it all: Who is this guy?
How did he do it? Well, by doing everything well, for a start. He landed 70 percent of his first serves, averaging 191kmh on his first serve. He was broken just once in the entire match, early in the third set, but what did he do, broke straight back, no panic, no rush, just aggressive, attacking play.
He hit 51 winners in all – 18 more than Rublev – including 24 on the forehand, he was 14 of 18 at the net. He moved brilliantly, he served superbly – 14 aces to one double fault – and he never let Rublev play the kind of tennis he likes to play, pushing him around the court, almost bullying him.
Perhaps the most telling moment came at the end of the match when the two men shook hands, a big smile on Rublev’s face almost echoing the feelings of everyone in the stands and those watching at home; who is this guy?
Inspired by Federer, Fonseca headed for top
The 18-year-old Fonseca gave notice of his talent when he won the Next Gen Finals in Jeddah at the end of last year, but this was a massive step up and he met the challenge. Physically, he already looks the finished article, even if he will improve on that score, no doubt. And his serve was reminiscent of that of Roger Federer, which may not be a surprise when you learn that Federer was his hero.
“My idol always was always Roger,” he said. “I grew up watching Roger. Of course, I think everyone wanted to play like him. “I even tried, when I was younger, the one-handed (backhand). I tried for, like, one week, and then I have something in my elbow, and then I forgot, I’m going to go two-handed again. But, yeah, he is an idol for me. He inspires me.”
Being Brazilian, he also looks up to Guga – Gustavo Kuerten – who won the French Open three times with a smile and personality that shone almost as bright as his game. Fonseca seems cut from the same cloth.
Like Federer, he SEEMS TO love everything about tennis
The way the two tiebreaks played out was another indication of his maturity. He blitzed through the first one thanks to his shot-making but the second one was even more impressive. When he was pegged back from 4-0 to 4-3, he could easily have folded under the pressure, but there was no panic and he continued to attack, taking things in his own hands, not just waiting for Rublev to miss.
Teenagers who play at this level don’t have fear, they just play freely, naturally, blissfully unaware or unbothered by the burden of expectation. That’s something Fonseca’s already having to get used to and as his ranking grows – he will be in the top 100 after the Australian Open no matter what happens from here – that will only get tougher. But like Federer, you get the feeling he enjoys it, loves what he’s doing.
“I’m playing great tennis, so I need to enjoy this moment, to play my best,” he said. “I’m playing good, so I’m feeling confident. Yeah, just try to go point per point and try to play good against those guys, increase my level when the important points came.
“And, yeah, I think we try to continue (that). That’s what the difference between the top players, the consistency, and I’m trying to improve my consistency. I have a good strike now at the end of last year and the beginning of this one. So try to stay like this.”
COMING OF AGE MOMENT
Federer came of age when he beat Pete Sampras at Wimbledon in 2001 while Rafael Nadal announced himself by beating Federer in Miami in 2004 as an 18-year-old. This was another special moment.
Sinner impressed as a teenager, while Alcaraz was a step ahead, winning the US Open as a 19-year-old. Nadal won the French Open at 19 while Federer and Djokovic were 21. It would not be the biggest surprise in the world should Fonseca be competing for major titles in the next year or so.
“It’s someone that I have to be care of, let’s say,” said Alcaraz, who was mightily impressed. “I have to see him. He’s going to be there. Is just the beginning of the year, just one win in Grand Slam, but he’s going to be there. We’re going to put the Joao Fonseca’s name on the list of the best players in the world really soon.”
Fonseca is impatient to join the big names at the top of the game, too. “When I arrived here, my first goal was to qualify for the main draw,” he said. “Of course, my expectations are bigger now. I want more and more.”
He plays Lorenzo Sonego next, while a third-round meeting with Frances Tiafoe already looks like a popcorn match. Watch this space.
