Tennis prodigy, 18-year-old Joao Fonseca, is on an upward trajectory in his career, having already secured his first ATP Tour title and made a noteworthy debut at the Grand Slam in Australia. Currently holding the world No. 60 ranking, Fonseca is aiming to escalate his career even further by bringing a significant addition to his team.
Fonseca’s camp at the Miami Open this fortnight has been bolstered by the arrival of celebrated coach Franco Davin. The expertise of Davin, who has previously led Juan Martin del Potro to victory at the 2009 US Open, will be a vital asset for Fonseca. The young tennis star’s regular mentor, Guilherme Teixeira, will also continue to provide his invaluable guidance.
The year 2025 marked a significant turning point in Fonseca’s career, during which he clinched the Argentina Open and two Challenger titles. Now, as he attains a career-best ranking of No. 60, Fonseca and his team are seeking the assistance of seasoned experts to help him scale new heights in the sport.
Davin’s presence at the Miami Open has already been noted, with the Argentine coach spotted training with the team. Teixeira, who personally hired Davin as a paid consultant following valuable advice he provided throughout the 2024 season, spoke highly of the synergy with the veteran coach.
Teixeira emphasized the importance of respecting Fonseca’s opinion in the decision to bring Davin on board, stating that the young player was very comfortable with the arrangement. He noted that their time together in Miami the previous year was both relaxed and highly productive.
The collaboration with Davin is not limited to the Miami Open. Teixeira confirmed the coach will continue to work with Fonseca, stating, “He [Davín] will be with us in Miami, where he resides. We even contemplated training at his gym if Joao wasn’t playing in Phoenix. But in the end, he’ll be with us at the tournament and should be in Rio for the clay court season preparation.”
Davin’s extensive experience mentoring some of the best players on the tour and guiding them to major victories will be a significant benefit for Fonseca. He has previously coached former world No. 3 Del Potro, leading him to triumph over Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the 2009 US Open. Davin also had a stint with Grigor Dimitrov before joining Fabio Fognini’s team and guiding the Italian to the Monte Carlo Masters title.
Fonseca’s playing style has already drawn comparisons to Del Potro. Former world No. 4 Kei Nishikori remarked on the young player’s impressive forehand speed, noting similarities with Del Potro’s style.
By winning the title in Phoenix, Fonseca joined an exclusive league, becoming only the third South American player to win three Challengers at age 18 or younger, following in the footsteps of Del Potro and Guillermo Coria.
Fonseca’s Miami Open campaign will kick off against fellow teen sensation Learner Tien, in a replay of the Next Gen ATP Finals final from December, which the Brazilian star won.
