"Everywhere I go—there are always Brazilians cheering, making noise" - Joao Fonseca relishes passionate Brazilian support ahead of blockbuster tie against Alcaraz

Joao Fonseca continues to be bombarded by a large sea of fans in green and yellow, aiding his rise through the tennis ranks as he looks to become one of the biggest tennis talents. After a tight three-set win over Fabian Marozsan in the first round of the Miami Open, his skills will be put to the test against none other than the world number one, Carlos Alcaraz.

An early break was enough for Fonseca to get through the first set on top, but he was hit back by the Hungarian in the second, himself clinching a solitary break to set up a deciding set to see who will take on the seven-time Grand Slam champion. Fonseca's class showed as he romped clear of his opponent to reach the second round of the Miami Open for the second time on the bounce.

"It was a good match. The first round is always tough, especially against a guy I lost to here last year," he told the Tennis Channel, referring to the opening round defeat at the Rome Open. "It was a different surface, but it stayed in my head a little bit, and I really wanted to win."

He started to review and dissect his performance. "I started really well. The match was solid, and getting an early break helped me release some pressure. In the second set, he got an early break and started playing more aggressively, going for his shots, which made me a bit tight."

As the match got tighter, Finseca relied on the outpouring of love and support from the crowd to push him over the line. "In the third set, the support from the crowd helped me a lot. I think he got a bit tighter on his serve, while I served really well. I’m happy with how I stayed mentally in the match. It was a tough opponent, so I’m pleased with how I got through."

It is becoming a common trend to see a huge amount of Brazilian flags mixed with yellow and green around tournaments that Fonseca is competing in. It has got a lot of attention on the ATP Tour as the huge talent continues to make strides in the sport.

With all this support, however, comes the added pressure. "A little bit. Miami is a special place for me, and the support from Brazilians is huge—almost like in Rio. I saw so many Brazilian shirts and flags, so there’s a bit of extra pressure."

This is just a side issue compared to how he feels bathing in their support. "But when I step on court, I know I have their support—whether I’m winning or losing, they’re always there, giving me good energy," he shared. "Sometimes there’s a lot of noise, even between serves, but I love it. I enjoy playing in that atmosphere. Managing the energy isn’t always easy, but I like it."

This has caused organisers to put the 19-year-old in the biggest stadiums on offer, something he is starting to get used to. "I’m getting used to it, and it definitely helps me more in a positive way than a negative one. Like I said, I love it," he stated. "I’m still around No. 40 in the world, but tournaments put me on the main stadium because they know a lot of Brazilians will come. It’s great to have that support everywhere I go—there are always Brazilians cheering, making noise. It’s good for tennis as well."

Back in December, Fonseca took to the court with Alcaraz in an exhibition clash. The Miami Invitational was won by the Spaniard in a remarkably tense third set tiebreaker. Fonseca pushed him the whole way but was inevitably kept at bay by Alcaraz.

They will meet for the first time on the ATP Tour back at the Hard Rock Stadium in what is set to be a very special match of tennis. "Of course, I’m very excited. It’s special," he said. "In just my second year on tour, I’m facing the best players. Last tournament I played the world No. 2, Jannik Sinner, and now Carlos."

Indian Wells provided a fantastic clash between him and Sinner. On another day, Fonseca could have got something out of the tie if he had been able to clinch one of the three set points in the opening stages. He would go on to lose a brace of tiebreaks against the eventual champion in a performance showcasing that he is getting back to his best.

Another opportunity against one of the world's best is next, and he only has one intention: to win. "It’s a great opportunity to see where I am, how close I can be, and to measure my level," he assessed. "I like playing against the best—learning how they play and how they deal with pressure. It’s going to be a special moment. I’ll go on court, enjoy it as much as I can, and of course, try to win."