A brand new tennis star is born! The 18-year-old Joao Fonseca wrapped up the 2024 season within the top-150, standing because the youngest participant in that group. The younger Brazilian has loved an unbelievable streak since December, and who is aware of when it’ll cease!
Fonseca claimed the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah final month and shifted that type to Australia. A young person lifted a Challenger trophy in Canberra within the first week of the brand new season earlier than qualifying for his first Main on the Australian Open.
Joao stormed over the qualifying area and gained much more confidence. The younger gun confronted world no. 9 Andrey Rublev within the first spherical in Melbourne and scored an announcement 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 victory for an ideal debut at Majors!
18 12 months previous João Fonseca slaps his forehand in addition to anyone on tour.
Tonight, he will get to point out it to the world.
Life is sweet. 🇧🇷pic.twitter.com/ACWzrpV5yM
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 14, 2025
At 18 years and 4 months, Fonseca grew to become the fourth-youngest participant with a top-10 triumph at Majors since 1990. He joined Mario Ancic, Carlos Alcaraz and Marat Safin on the unique checklist.
Joao can be the eleventh youngest participant to perform that within the Open period, following the names like Mats Wilander, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. It is not usually that the younger gun stands an opportunity towards a top-10 rival in his first Main match.
Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Nonetheless, many thought of Joao the favourite towards Andrey, contemplating his type and the Russian’s points. The younger gun confirmed no concern towards the extra skilled rival, firing from all cylinders and producing daring and engaging tennis on Margaret Courtroom Enviornment.
Those that had not seen Fonseca’s forehand had an opportunity to study every thing about one of essentially the most fearsome weapons on the Tour! A young person took the pivotal factors and sealed the deal in two hours and 23 minutes for a milestone win.
Joao shined behind the primary serve and saved the factors on his racquet with 51 winners and 32 unforced errors. Andrey did his finest to remain calm and keep away from final 12 months’s outbursts. He endured till the third tie break earlier than smashing his racquet.
Andrey Rublev, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
He fought effectively however ended on the dropping aspect, smiling whereas congratulating his unbelievable rival on the web. A young person skilled just one break and generated ten break factors. He wasted eight however did a tremendous job with two breaks on his tally.
Fonseca dominated the mid-range exchanges, attacking first and retaining the strings of the duel in his palms. The match began with tremendous serves on each side. Rublev closed the seventh recreation for 4-3 and created a break probability within the subsequent one.
The Brazilian saved it after an prolonged rally and introduced the sport house for 4-4. The returners had no extra possibilities, and the set went right into a tie break. Joao confirmed no signal of nerves, taking all 4 factors on serve and pressuring his rival on the return.
Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
A qualifier fired a forehand crosscourt winner within the first level and moved 3-0 up. Fonseca drew Rublev’s mistake within the fourth level and landed a return winner at 6-1 to wrap up the opener in 44 minutes and acquire a lift.
Joao made a push on the return within the second recreation of the second set. He created a backhand down the road winner for break factors and welcomed Andrey’s double fault for a 2-0 lead. The Russian struggled once more within the fourth recreation however saved two break factors.
He earned a uncommon break probability within the fifth recreation and participant a wayward forehand to overlook it. Fonseca produced a maintain at love in recreation seven and served for the set at 5-3. The younger gun fired an ace and solid two units to like benefit after two hours and 21 minutes.
Joao Fonseca, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Rublev clinched his solely break within the fourth recreation of the third set. As a substitute of engaged on that, the extra skilled participant confronted 4 break factors within the subsequent one and dropped serve. Thus, Fonseca returned to the optimistic aspect after solely a few minutes.
The Brazilian cracked a forehand winner within the eighth recreation, saving a break level and locking the end result at 4-4. The servers supplied 4 holds and launched the second tie break. Joao kicked it off with a volley winner and a mini-break.
A young person claimed two factors on serve for 3-0. Rublev missed a forehand within the fourth level, sealing his destiny and smashing the racquet in anger. Nonetheless, Fonseca dropped two factors on serve and saved his rival alive.
Joao performed one other fearless shot at 5-5, touchdown a backhand down the road winner and incomes a match level. The 18-year-old cracked a forehand down the road winner, shifting excessive in type and writing historical past books.
