“He has everything”: Carlos Alcaraz warns Joao Fonseca ‘will be a player to beat’ before Miami showdown

Carlos Alcaraz arrives at the Miami Open as the top seed and World No. 1, carrying both strong form and a clear sense of purpose after his first setback of the season. The Spaniard holds a 16-1 record in 2026, according to the ATP Win/Loss Index, with his only defeat coming in straight sets to Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells semi-finals.

The 22-year-old is now aiming to reset quickly in south Florida, where conditions and recent history offer an opportunity to regain momentum. Alcaraz already knows what it is like to lift the trophy in Miami – he did so in 2022 – but since then he has not returned to the final, while in 2025 he suffered perhaps his most disappointing defeat of the season when he fell in his debut match to David Goffin.

It will be a tough opening match for the Spaniard, against perhaps one of the most dangerous among the unseeded players: the Brazilian Joao Fonseca. The Brazilian advanced through the opening round with a three-set win over Fabian Marozsan, adding another competitive performance to his growing résumé.

The clash would mark their first official meeting on the ATP Tour, following an exhibition encounter in Miami last December. Since then, Fonseca’s progression has accelerated, already established as a top-40 player and after a strong campaign at Indian Wells up to the fourth round – where he was ultimately eliminated by Jannik Sinner.

Alcaraz has followed Fonseca’s emergence closely and offered a detailed assessment of the Brazilian’s game ahead of their potential meeting. The Spaniard emphasised both the completeness of Fonseca’s skill set and the areas that will determine his long-term trajectory.

He described the 19-year-old as a player who already possesses “the level” required to compete at the highest stage, pointing in particular to his shot-making and physical tools. Alcaraz suggested that Fonseca’s combination of power and variety places him ahead of many players at a similar stage of development.

“Well I think he has the level. He has the shot, he has the power. I would say that he has everything,” the 7-time Grand Slam champion said in an interview with Tennis TV. “A lot of things to improve, obviously, but if he does the right things he is going to be there for sure.”

Alcaraz also highlighted the broader context around emerging talents, noting that managing expectations is often as critical as technical development. For Fonseca, who has already won titles in Buenos Aires and Basel in 2025, that transition is now underway as he adjusts to greater attention on and off the court.

“He is going to fight for great things. He has to improve. He has to learn how to deal with expectation. How to deal with everything on court. And obviously, to choose the right things all the time. When or if he does it, he is going to be a player to beat.”

Fonseca’s recent results underline why the potential matchup carries significance. Earlier this month at Indian Wells, he pushed Jannik Sinner in two tight sets, offering a competitive display against the reigning champion. That performance followed a breakthrough 2025 season that included ATP titles and deeper runs at major events.

Miami has already been a productive venue for the Brazilian. In 2025, he reached the third round of a Masters 1000 event for the first time, defeating Learner Tien and Ugo Humbert before losing to Alex de Minaur. That run established a baseline that he now seeks to surpass.

The Brazilian appeared on the final day before competing wearing a Brazil national football team shirt, highlighting his appreciation as well for the Brazilian crowd that has packed the Miami Open. “I think it’s great to see a lot of people and a lot of fans around, screaming and cheering, hearing them so loudly. I think it’s great. So just trying take the joga bonito [play beautiful] from Brazil.”