Carlos Alcaraz hails Joao Fonseca: ‘Merely Unbelievable!’

Joao Fonseca is the brand new tennis star! The 18-year-old Brazilian is on a notable successful streak, making a reputation for himself and rumbling in Melbourne! An adolescent handed the qualifying stage and booked a spot in his first most important draw at Majors in Melbourne. 

An adolescent confronted world no. 9 Andrey Rublev within the first spherical and scored a memorable 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 victory in two hours and 27 minutes. Thus, Joao turned the fourth-youngest participant since 1990 with a top-10 win at Majors.

Carlos Alcaraz is on that unique listing, realizing what it takes to topple the rival from the highest on the notable scene. Alcaraz praised the younger Brazilian and referred to as him the one to observe! The four-time Main winner labeled Fonseca’s win over Rublev an unbelievable one. 

Carlos appreciated each facet of Joao’s sport on his Main debut and predicted his fast trajectory towards the highest of males’s tennis. 

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2025

Joao entered the Australian Open on a successful streak. On the finish of 2024, he conquered the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah and began the brand new season with the Canberra Challenger crown. As anticipated, Fonseca simply handed three qualifying rounds in Melbourne. 

He drew Rublev within the first spherical and confirmed no signal o concern or hesitation. An adolescent went for his photographs and outplayed the extra skilled rival for an ideal debut at Majors. Joao fired up his forehand and the primary serve, touchdown 51 winners and 32 unforced errors!

Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot

 

He dominated the mid-range rallies with 5 to eight strokes and misplaced serve solely as soon as, mounting the stress on the opposite aspect. Joao erased the deficit within the third set and moved excessive with a nice efficiency within the tie break.

Rublev saved eight of ten break factors, preventing laborious however dropping the pivotal moments to hit the exit door. The encounter kicked off with seven nice holds earlier than the teenager confronted a break level at 3-4. He saved it after an entertaining rally and held for 4-4. 

The set went right into a tie break, and Joao confirmed his psychological power. He gained all 4 factors on serve and grabbed an early mini-break with a forehand crosscourt winner. A qualifier grabbed one other mini-break for 4-0 and earned 5 set factors. 

Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Fonseca transformed the primary with a return winner, securing the opener in 44 minutes. The Brazilian broke the Russian within the second sport of the second set after Rublev’s pricey double fault. Rublev saved two break factors within the fourth sport, remaining inside one break deficit. 

Joao saved a break level within the fifth sport and held for 4-1. A maintain at love is all the time welcomed, and the younger gun produced it within the seventh sport for a 5-2 lead. Fonseca served for the set at 5-3 and cracked an ace, transferring two units to like up after two hours and 21 minutes. 

Andrey secured his solely break within the fourth sport of the third set for a 3-1 benefit. Nevertheless, he acquired damaged within the subsequent sport on the fourth break level, bringing his rival again to the constructive aspect. Joao denied a break level within the eighth sport with a strong forehand. 

Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The set went right into a tie break, and Rublev felt the stress. Fonseca secured a mini-break with a volley winner and grabbed two factors on serve for 3-0. Andrey sprayed a forehand error within the fourth level and misplaced his mood, like many occasions in 2024.

The Brazilian dropped two factors on serve and introduced his rival into rivalry. Displaying no concern within the closing phases, the younger gun fired a backhand down the road winner within the eleventh level and generated a match level. 

An in-form teenager transformed it with a forehand down the road winner, securing a powerful Main debut and incomes praises from the four-time Main winner.

Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot

 

“I watched a bit of Joao’s match against Andrey, the beginning and the end. What can I say? He is simply unbelievable! It was his first Major match, and he handled it amazingly against a top-10 rival. Seeing his approach and how he controlled his nerves and everything was fantastic.

I have to watch him carefully as he will be there. It’s only the beginning of the season, and it was his first Major win, but he will join the world’s best players soon,” Carlos Alcaraz mentioned.