By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday March 25, 2025
In a whirlwind three months, 18-year-old sensation Joao Fonseca has received his first match at a serious, made his Prime 100 debut, claimed his first ATP title, and performed his first sunshine double.
All of the whereas the Brazilian has completed it beneath the white-hot highlight of a tennis-crazed nation that believes he simply is likely to be their subsequent Guga.
Not a simple 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 will 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 increased this yr, with not a variety of rating factors to defend.
Anticipate him to be ranked a lot increased – and to be carrying much more expertise beneath his belt – when he returns to Miami subsequent yr.
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, a lot of whom made the trek all the best way from Brazil to see him play, and created an environment that was frenzied and electrical contained in the Onerous Rock Stadium in Miami.
“First impression right here is that I actually felt like I used to be in Brazil,” he mentioned after being eradicated within the third spherical by Alex de Minaur. “I imply, not solely the gang, however the group handled me like I used to be in Brazil. So it was tremendous cool. I actually just like the event. In all probability certainly one of my favourite tournaments now.
“I knew it was going to be crowded, however I did not understand it was going to be enormous.”
🗣️ “I simply needed to entertain…I used to be simply vibing”Joao Fonseca on how the environment motivated him 🇧🇷#MiamiOpen
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 25, 2025
Fonseca additionally acquired to play some large matches on an enormous stage, in opposition to the likes of Prime 20 abilities Ugo Humbert and De Minaur.
“Enjoying with the highest gamers, you sort of know the place your degree is,” he mentioned. “I actually see that I am the proper means, I am on the proper path, enjoying some good matches in opposition to high gamers. That’s the place I need to be.”
Clay Comes Subsequent
Now it’s on to the clay and a complete 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.
“All the pieces is new. I must get used to every little thing,” he mentioned. “It is going to be my first time enjoying these tournaments in Europe. I truly performed the Madrid Open final yr… it may be new experiences. I must adapt, after all. After all I will play my tennis – the aggressive tennis that you simply guys know. Now on clay. It is going to be good. It is going to be a fantastic expertise.”
Requested if his tennis profession is popping out the best way he had imagined, Fonseca admitted that his success has come a bit simpler than anticipated, however by no means does that imply that he isn’t being pushed to his limits on the dog-eat-dog ATP Tour.
“Whenever you see on the tv the tour, you see the highest gamers simply having fun with, profitable all of the matches,” he mentioned. “But it surely’s not like that. You already know that there is a course of, futures, challengers, then it’s essential move the barrier from high 100. It is a lengthy approach to being right here within the high tournaments.
“Once I was younger watching on the TV, I used to be like, I need to be there. It is going to be simple to go there. However no, it is a good distance. Fortuitously I handed this in a quick means, doing a little nice tournaments and getting in these tournaments now.”
