Joao Fonseca has taken the tennis world by storm in recent months. Aged just 18, he’s won the Next Gen Finals, made a statement Grand Slam debut, and won his first ATP Tour title at the Argentina Open. Novak Djokovic has already declared the Brazilian a future “superstar”.
But the teenager almost delayed his professional career to attend university. After becoming a junior Grand Slam champion, Fonseca was left weighing up his options and considered the college tennis route until one big run changed his mind.
Fonseca enjoyed a stellar year on the junior circuit in 2023, reaching No. 1 in the world and winning the boys’ singles event at the US Open. As a result, he was invited to the Next Gen Finals to serve as a sparring partner for the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
But the Brazilian teenager was still undecided about his career plans, unsure whether to turn professional immediately or go to university. Fonseca even committed to the University of Virginia.
However, when received a wildcard into his home tournament, the Rio Open, in 2024 – and he quickly changed his mind.
“When I realised I was good, really good, was after the [juniors] US Open that I won in 2023,” the current world No. 80 told Vogue.
“After that, I became the No. 1 in juniors, and I said, ‘Okay, I’m good. I’m 17 and I’m the No. 1 player in the world’.
“Two months later, I made the quarterfinals in Rio, and I was still thinking about going to college, but after Rio my ranking went from something like 700 to 350, and I just said to myself, ‘Okay – I’m going pro. I’m not going to university’.”
During that run in Rio, Fonseca earned his first-ever ATP Tour match win over Arthur Fils in the first round. He followed it up by beating Cristian Garin to reach the quarter-final.
Off the back of his efforts in Rio, the teenager received a wildcard into another professional event, the Chile Open. Afterwards, he decided to turn professional, sacrificing his college tennis eligibility.
It’s turned out to be the right decision. At the end of 2024, Fonseca followed in Alcaraz and Sinner’s footsteps by winning the Next Gen ATP Finals – a tournament for the best players under the age of 21.
In January, he won the Canberra Challenger and he followed it up by qualifying for his first Grand Slam main draw at the Australian Open. Fonseca announced himself on his debut, upsetting No. 9 seed Andrey Rublev.
Last month, Fonseca picked up his maiden tour title in Buenos Aires. And he’s already doing damage in Indian Wells, where he beat Britain’s Jacob Fearnley in round one after getting a wildcard.
Now, even the world’s best players are paying attention. “He has the potential to be really a superstar of this game. No doubt about it,” Djokovic recently said of the 18-year-old.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk