19-year-old João Fonseca from Brazil is quickly establishing himself as the future of tennis. Fonseca has a reputation for being a strong, physical player. This year he’s advocating for himself in a big way, winning two ATP Tour titles and playing to rousing performances. His journey illustrates an interesting confluence of innate talent and calculated savvy. He runs, dives, plays hard, learns actively — all to try to keep that killer aggression in check and become a complete five-tool player.
Fonseca first caught the eye of the tennis world with his extraordinary forehand. He routinely times it with a top speed of an astounding 81 mph. He connects epic imagery with jarring, needle-sharp impact. It is this clutch ability that makes him unique among all of his fellow rookies. “I was the kind of kid that destroyed the ball,” Fonseca explained, highlighting his early inclination toward power-based play. His coach recognized his potential and encouraged him to maintain his knockout artist demeanor. Yet at the same time, he preached the need to hone a more fundamental-oriented game. “Keep doing this, but at the same time, let’s work with being more solid,” Fonseca recalled.
The 22-year-old Brazilian took an impressive leap in his sport, winning the Argentina Open. With this win though, he became just the second-youngest South American to win an ATP title in the Open Era. This win was significant, indeed, as it heralded his emergence from a bright junior prospect into a fierce pro competitor. He didn’t do himself any harm by winning the title in Basel last week. This victory punched him 18 places up the ATP rankings to No. 28.
Fonseca’s been on a hot streak of recent victories. He proved it down under at the Australian Open earlier this season, taking out ninth-seeded Andrey Rublev. His accolades have repeated as an oracle foretold, one by one announcing his prodigious talent. On top of that, they’ve made him one of the ATP Tour’s greatest successes.
Despite his success, Fonseca has yet to face some of the biggest names in tennis, including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner. That hasn’t deterred him from his objectives and desire to be the best player he can be. “I think one of my goals is to be a seed, top 32 (at a grand slam),” he stated. “It’s my personal goal. I’m in deep already trying to pull it off … we’ll see how it works out.”
His international journey began with a bang, when Fonseca stormed into the quarterfinals of last year’s Rio Open at the age of just 17. This remarkable success led him to become pro and relinquish his college eligibility with the U of Virginia. His decision reflects a commitment to pursuing a career that he hopes will mirror that of his idol, Roger Federer. Last week, Fonseca was fortunate enough to have a one-on-one with Federer before the start of a Laver Cup media event day in San Francisco. Just to have that inclusion and celebration really inspired him and continued to inspire him to commit to the sport.
The Brazilian crowd’s passion for tennis has played a significant role in shaping Fonseca’s experience on the court. He confessed that performing in front of a friendly crowd was intimidating at first. In reality though, “At first I was really intimidated,” he admitted. “I needed to win, and there are people watching me, there are people cheering for me.” He has learned to fly in that environment and today most people would say he’s flourished under it. “I got used a lot to the crowd. Nowadays, I love playing with the crowd,” he noted. This inspired cultural connection between Brazilian fans and their athletes adds a potent layer of motivation for Fonseca during matches.
“As he continues to develop his skills and grow as a player, Fonseca acknowledges that mastering the balance between aggression and strategy is crucial. “During these last years, I understood that you can’t hit the ball hard every time … Sometimes, it’s a stupid idea, of course, but sometimes, it’s good to be aggressive, to be courageous and have confidence in your shots,” he remarked.
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