Rising star Fonseca ‘will be on the list of best players’

Australian Open 2025

Dates: January 12-26 Place: Melbourne Park

Blanket: Live radio commentary on Tennis Breakfast from 07:00 GMT on BBC 5 Sports Extra, as well as live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

Carlos Alcaraz believes Joao Fonseca’s name will be on the ‘list of best players in the world’ after the teenager knocked out ninth seed Andrey Rublev in the first round of the Australian Open.

Fonseca, 18, enjoyed an unforgettable Grand Slam debut with a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 7-6 (7-5) victory over Rublev on Tuesday.

The Brazilian was playing his first main draw match at a major tournament, after going through three qualifying rounds without dropping a set in Melbourne last week.

The victory extended his winning streak to 14 matches and Alcaraz, a four-time major winner, said it was “fantastic” the way Fonseca, ranked 112th, handled everything.

“What can I say about it? Simply amazing,” Alcaraz said.

“The way he played his first Grand Slam match against his first top 10 player, it’s incredible.

“It’s only the start of the year, just one Grand Slam victory, but he will be there.

“We will very soon include Joao Fonseca’s name on the list of the best players in the world.”

“As Roger said, talent is not enough”

Fonseca was ranked 730th in the world at the start of 2024, but by the end of the year he had climbed into the top 150.

He caught the attention of tennis fans with quarterfinal appearances at the ATP 500 event in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro and the ATP 250 in Bucharest.

The teenager truly established himself as one of the top newcomers by winning the Next Gen ATP Finals in December, an event reserved for top male players aged 21 and under.

Current world number one Jannik Sinner, winner of the tournament in 2019, is the only player to have won the title younger than Fonseca.

In fact, it was Sinner who convinced Fonseca to turn professional when he was the Italian’s striking partner at the 2023 ATP Finals.

Fonseca’s performance against Rublev proved his potential, as he took charge with his powerful forehand and fired 51 winners to the Russian’s 33.

“I just enjoyed every moment on this incredible pitch, it’s my first time playing in a huge stadium,” Fonseca said.

Fonseca is only the second teenager since 1973 to beat a top 10 opponent at his first Grand Slam, after Mario Ancic beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2002.

When asked during his on-court interview how much money it would cost to have his talent, Fonseca referred to 20-time major winner Federer, replying: “As Roger said, talent doesn’t not enough without hard work.

“My idol has always been Roger, I grew up watching Roger. Everyone wanted to play like him and I even tried the one-handed backhand for a week when I was younger.”

Fonseca will meet Italian Lorenzo Sonego, ranked 57 places higher, in the second round on Thursday.

“Of course my expectations are higher now,” Fonseca said. “I want more and more, I think that’s the mentality of champions.”