At just 18 years old, Brazilian tennis prodigy João Fonseca is turning heads and igniting excitement across the tennis world, with none other than Nick Kyrgios heralding him as a future titan of the sport. The former Wimbledon finalist, known for his bold takes and electrifying play, recently shared a story that underscores Fonseca’s relentless drive, predicting, “Fonseca is going to be an absolute monster.” This glowing endorsement came after Kyrgios witnessed the young star’s extraordinary work ethic during a practice session in Canberra, Australia, setting the stage for Fonseca’s meteoric rise as one of tennis’s most promising talents.
Fonseca, born in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, has been making waves with a string of impressive achievements. The 18-year-old, who began playing tennis at age four at the Rio de Janeiro Country Club, has already clinched the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals title, becoming the second-youngest winner of the prestigious tournament for players aged 20 and under. His dominance continued into 2025, as he captured the Canberra Challenger title, defeating American Ethan Quinn in the final to extend his winning streak to 10 matches. This victory propelled him to a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 59, making him Brazil’s top-ranked player and the youngest Brazilian to crack the top 100 at 18 years, 5 months, and 6 days, surpassing the record previously set by Cássio Motta.
Kyrgios’s admiration for Fonseca stems from a moment that epitomizes the teenager’s hunger for greatness. During the Canberra Challenger, Kyrgios was training nearby when he noticed Fonseca, fresh off a semifinal win over Jacob Fearnley, practicing serves and forehands for an additional hour and a half. “He was about to play a final the next day. You think any other player would stretch, warm down. Fonseca goes into the indoors next to me and proceeds to practice for another hour and a half, hitting serves and forehands,” Kyrgios recounted. Struck by this dedication, Kyrgios declared, “He’s an anomaly. Give him time to build some strength and he is going to be awesome. I can’t wait.”
Fonseca’s on-court exploits back up the hype. At the 2025 Australian Open, he made his major main-draw debut as a qualifier and stunned the tennis world by defeating ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, becoming the first teenager since Mario Ančić in 2002 to beat a top-10 player in the first round of a Grand Slam. His powerful forehand, described as a “scary prospect” for its spin and ferocity, was on full display as he dispatched Rublev with clinical precision. Earlier, Fonseca had breezed through qualifying rounds, dropping just 12 games across three matches against Thiago Tirante, Coleman Wong, and Federico Gomez. His composure under pressure was evident again at Indian Wells, where he rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the third set to defeat Fearnley 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, earning his second ATP Masters 1000 victory. “The first round of a Masters, it was windy, I was playing against a great guy – it was difficult conditions, but I got through, so I’m very happy with the way I fought today,” Fonseca said, reflecting on the win.
The Brazilian’s journey began with a junior career that saw him crowned the 2023 ITF Junior World Champion after winning the US Open boys’ singles title and reaching the Australian Open boys’ doubles final. Transitioning to the pro circuit, Fonseca made history as the first player born in 2006 to win an ATP Tour match, defeating seventh seed Arthur Fils at the 2024 Rio Open. His aggressive, explosive game, reminiscent of his idol Roger Federer, has drawn comparisons to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Novak Djokovic, another tennis legend, praised Fonseca’s “balance and professionalism and devotion,” likening him to Alcaraz after his Indian Wells performance. Fonseca’s ability to seize opportunities, as he noted in an interview, is key: “When you have the opportunity, for example at 30-40, you have to take advantage of it against these players. If you don’t, they will close the door.”
Off the court, Fonseca’s charisma and humility have endeared him to fans worldwide. Once a junior chasing autographs, he now finds kids lining up for his signature. “Everything is new for me – I’m still young and I’m still getting used to this,” he said after Indian Wells. “But seeing people – not just Brazilians but from all over the world – cheering for me and calling my name, wanting autographs … It’s very nice to see those kids and people watching me.” Inspired by Brazilian legend Gustavo Kuerten, whom he admires for his humility, Fonseca dreams of becoming world No. 1 and writing his own chapter in tennis history.
Despite his rapid ascent, Fonseca faces challenges as he navigates the professional circuit. His upcoming second-round match at Indian Wells against world No. 14 Jack Draper will test his mettle, following his upset of Rublev. Meanwhile, Kyrgios, who has faced setbacks with a wrist injury that forced him to retire at Indian Wells, remains a vocal supporter. “No one in the sport’s had a wrist reconstruction and tried to play after that,” Kyrgios said, underscoring his own struggles but maintaining optimism for Fonseca’s future.
As Fonseca continues to captivate audiences with his fearless play and relentless work ethic, the tennis world is buzzing with anticipation. With Kyrgios’s bold prediction and endorsements from Djokovic and others, the Brazilian teenager is poised to become a household name. “I believe there are no limits,” Fonseca declared, signaling his ambition to dominate the sport. As he prepares for his next challenge, all eyes are on this rising star, ready to witness the making of a tennis “monster.”
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