A new tennis star is born! The 18-year-old Joao Fonseca wrapped up the 2024 season in the top-150, standing as the youngest player in that group. The young Brazilian has enjoyed an incredible streak since December, and who knows when it will stop!
Fonseca claimed the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah last month and shifted that form to Australia. A teenager lifted a Challenger trophy in Canberra in the first week of the new season before qualifying for his first Major at the Australian Open.
Joao stormed over the qualifying field and gained even more confidence. The young gun faced world no. 9 Andrey Rublev in the first round in Melbourne and scored a statement 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 victory for a perfect debut at Majors!
18 year old João Fonseca slaps his forehand as well as anybody on tour.
Tonight, he gets to show it to the world.
Life is good. 🇧🇷
pic.twitter.com/ACWzrpV5yM— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 14, 2025
At 18 years and four months, Fonseca became the fourth-youngest player with a top-10 triumph at Majors since 1990. He joined Mario Ancic, Carlos Alcaraz and Marat Safin on the exclusive list.
Joao is also the 11th youngest player to accomplish that in the Open era, following the names like Mats Wilander, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. It’s not often that the young gun stands a chance against a top-10 rival in his first Major match.
Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
However, many considered Joao the favorite against Andrey, considering his form and the Russian’s issues. The young gun showed no fear against the more experienced rival, firing from all cylinders and producing bold and attractive tennis on Margaret Court Arena.
Those who had not seen Fonseca’s forehand had a chance to learn everything about one of the most fearsome weapons on the Tour! A teenager took the pivotal points and sealed the deal in two hours and 23 minutes for a milestone win.
Joao shined behind the first serve and kept the points on his racquet with 51 winners and 32 unforced errors. Andrey did his best to stay calm and avoid last year’s outbursts. He endured until the third tie break before smashing his racquet.
Andrey Rublev, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
He fought well but ended on the losing side, smiling while congratulating his incredible rival at the net. A teenager experienced only one break and generated ten break points. He wasted eight but did a fine job with two breaks on his tally.
Fonseca dominated the mid-range exchanges, attacking first and keeping the strings of the duel in his hands. The match started with fine serves on both sides. Rublev closed the seventh game for 4-3 and created a break chance in the next one.
The Brazilian saved it after an extended rally and brought the game home for 4-4. The returners had no more chances, and the set went into a tie break. Joao showed no sign of nerves, taking all four points on serve and pressuring his rival on the return.
Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
A qualifier fired a forehand crosscourt winner in the first point and moved 3-0 up. Fonseca drew Rublev’s mistake in the fourth point and landed a return winner at 6-1 to wrap up the opener in 44 minutes and gain a boost.
Joao made a push on the return in the second game of the second set. He created a backhand down the line winner for break points and welcomed Andrey’s double fault for a 2-0 lead. The Russian struggled again in the fourth game but saved two break points.
He earned a rare break chance in the fifth game and player a wayward forehand to miss it. Fonseca produced a hold at love in game seven and served for the set at 5-3. The young gun fired an ace and forged two sets to love advantage after two hours and 21 minutes.
Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Rublev clinched his only break in the fourth game of the third set. Instead of working on that, the more experienced player faced four break points in the next one and dropped serve. Thus, Fonseca returned to the positive side after only a couple of minutes.
The Brazilian cracked a forehand winner in the eighth game, saving a break point and locking the result at 4-4. The servers provided four holds and introduced the second tie break. Joao kicked it off with a volley winner and a mini-break.
A teenager claimed two points on serve for 3-0. Rublev missed a forehand in the fourth point, sealing his fate and smashing the racquet in anger. However, Fonseca dropped two points on serve and kept his rival alive.
Joao played another fearless shot at 5-5, landing a backhand down the line winner and earning a match point. The 18-year-old cracked a forehand down the line winner, moving over the top in style and writing history books.
Tennis World USA