By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday March 25, 2025
In a whirlwind three months, 18-year-old sensation Joao Fonseca has gained his first match at a significant, made his Prime 100 debut, claimed his first ATP title, and performed his first sunshine double.
All of the whereas the Brazilian has executed it beneath the white-hot highlight of a tennis-crazed nation that believes he simply is likely to be their subsequent Guga.
Not a straightforward job to say the least, however Fonseca has carried out admirably, and in these final three months demonstrated the kind of game-changing expertise that he might be.
He’s slated to rise to a career-high rating of No.58 within the ATP rankings on Monday, and will go a lot greater this 12 months, with not loads of rating factors to defend.
Anticipate him to be ranked a lot greater – and to be carrying much more expertise beneath his belt – when he returns to Miami subsequent 12 months.
For now, Fonseca can bask within the realization that he has a house away from house in South Florida ready for him. He was adored by followers, lots of whom made the trek all the way in which from Brazil to see him play, and created an environment that was frenzied and electrical contained in the Laborious Rock Stadium in Miami.
“First impression right here is that I actually felt like I used to be in Brazil,” he stated after being eradicated within the third spherical by Alex de Minaur. “I imply, not solely the group, however the group handled me like I used to be in Brazil. So it was tremendous cool. I actually just like the match. Most likely one in every of my favourite tournaments now.
“I knew it was going to be crowded, however I did not comprehend it was going to be large.”
🗣️ “I simply needed to entertain…I used to be simply vibing”Joao Fonseca on how the ambiance motivated him 🇧🇷#MiamiOpen
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 25, 2025
Fonseca additionally acquired to play some massive matches on a giant stage, towards the likes of Prime 20 skills Ugo Humbert and De Minaur.
“Taking part in with the highest gamers, you type of know the place your degree is,” he stated. “I actually see that I am the correct method, I am on the correct path, taking part in some good matches towards prime gamers. That’s the place I need to be.”
Clay Comes Subsequent
Now it’s on to the clay and an entire new set of experiences for Fonseca. He already proved himself on the floor by profitable the Buenos Aires title, so it shouldn’t be too troublesome for him.
“Every part is new. I have to get used to all the things,” he stated. “It will be my first time taking part in these tournaments in Europe. I truly performed the Madrid Open final 12 months… it will be new experiences. I have to adapt, in fact. In fact I will play my tennis – the aggressive tennis that you simply guys know. Now on clay. It will be good. It will be an excellent expertise.”
Requested if his tennis profession is popping out the way in which he had imagined, Fonseca admitted that his success has come a bit simpler than anticipated, however on no account does that imply that he isn’t being pushed to his limits on the dog-eat-dog ATP Tour.
“While you see on the tv the tour, you see the highest gamers simply having fun with, profitable all of the matches,” he stated. “However it’s not like that. You recognize that there is a course of, futures, challengers, then you’ll want to go the barrier from prime 100. It is a lengthy strategy to being right here within the prime tournaments.
“Once I was younger watching on the TV, I used to be like, I need to be there. It will be straightforward to go there. However no, it is a great distance. Happily I handed this in a quick method, doing a little nice tournaments and getting in these tournaments now.”
