In a spectacular leap from a ranking of 727 to the top 70, young tennis dynamo Joao Fonseca has been making waves in the tennis circuit. At just 18, Fonseca’s talents are undeniable, having begun the current season on the high note of a title finish at the ATP Next Gen Finals in December. His meteoric rise was punctuated by a striking upset victory over World No. 8 Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open.
As Fonseca makes his inaugural appearance at the Indian Wells Masters, his recent triumph at the Argentina Open – his first ATP title – is fresh in everyone’s minds. Despite experiencing a setback against Alexandre Muller at the Round of 32 of the Rio Open, Fonseca’s rapid ascension has not gone unnoticed by his competitors. Among them is Alexander Zverev, who expressed admiration for the rising star ahead of his Round of 64 match.
Zverev, the top-seeded player, shared his thoughts on Fonseca during a pre-tournament presser, praising the young player’s potential and skill. “He’s very young, very, very talented, he’s going to be a great player, for sure. I think he can be top 10 and maybe even further than that. He’s swinging freely, enjoying his time on the professional circuit, and there is no pressure,” proclaimed Zverev, clearly impressed by Fonseca’s performance.
Earlier this year, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic also acknowledged Fonseca’s potential during their first meeting in Melbourne. Djokovic commended the young player’s courage and clean hitting. Djokovic’s coach and three-time Slam winner, Andy Murray, echoed the sentiments, expressing excitement for a future match between Fonseca and Alcaraz.
Fonseca’s talents have been apparent since his early years. At just 17, he clinched the 2023 US Open junior title and ended the year as the top-ranked junior. He made his ATP tour debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2023, and a year later, he scored his first ATP wins at the same event, reaching the quarterfinals by defeating Arthur Fils and Cristian Garin.
Fonseca initially committed to the University of Virginia but ultimately decided to turn professional, announcing his decision on Instagram. The young player cites Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1, as having encouraged him to turn professional during a hitting partnership at the previous year’s ATP Finals. By the end of 2024, Fonseca, then ranked 145, won the Next Gen Finals, defeating Learner Tien as the youngest and lowest-ranked player in the tournament.
Now, as he sets his sights on the Indian Wells Masters, Fonseca is clear about his goals and is looking to make a strong impact on the ATP. He shared his excitement for the tournament and his plans for future matches with reporters ahead of his opening round showcase. “My team and I are working hard to get me in a position to play alongside the top rivals. It feels fantastic to be here in Indian Wells. Playing at such a big tournament is the goal of every player, and I want to thank the organizers for this opportunity.”
Fonseca is set to face Jacob Fearnley in his debut match at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday, March 7. His journey serves as a testament to his potential and the exciting future he has in the world of professional tennis.