“I was outpaced everywhere”: Ugo Humbert compares Joao Fonseca to Alcaraz and Sinner

Ugo Humbert fell in his first clash against Joao Fonseca, 4-6, 3-6 at the Miami Open, and spoke about the teenage sensation, comparing him to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The Frenchman admitted he felt "outpaced everywhere," something he had only experienced playing against the Grand Slam champions Sinner and Alcaraz.

Humbert entered the tournament as the 19th seed, and while Fonseca is currently ranked World No. 60, his rapid rise has been undeniable, and players on the tour are already hoping to avoid him in the early rounds. The 18-year-old earned another impressive victory, advancing to the third round of Miami — his first time reaching that stage at a Masters 1000.

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Humbert was taken aback by the Brazilian’s high level, making him the youngest player to reach the Miami Open third round since Juan Martin Del Potro in 2007 and the second-youngest at any Masters 1000, only behind Carlos Alcaraz at the 2021 Paris Masters.

In an interview with France’s L’Équipe, Humbert addressed how he felt facing the Brazilian: “Really unbelievable players,” he stated. “I've rarely played against a guy who played so fast. I had a bit of that feeling when I played Alcaraz in the Davis Cup, and Sinner in Rome. He outpaced me everywhere, he played a great match.”

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Fonseca spent much of his childhood playing football but decided to pursue a tennis career after an injury. “When I was 11 or 12, I had a small injury. I played with older players, but then I fell on my glutes and spent two months injured. I said, 'Mom, I just don't want to play soccer anymore, I want to continue with tennis.’”

He also shared his admiration for some Brazilian football legends: “I really like Neymar's skills. I loved watching him play. I also liked Ronaldinho but I didn't watch much of him. We call him 'The Witch' in Brazil."

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Fonseca acknowledged the growing attention he’s receiving back home: “From Brazil, the repercussions are just big. People are getting to know a little bit more of me. That's super nice. The Brazilian people like to cheer a lot for this [promising] kid. But, at the same time, you need to be focused.”

Fonseca will look to keep advancing when he faces World No. 11 Alex De Minaur. His only previous match against a higher-ranked player came at the Australian Open when he stunned World No. 9 Andrey Rublev in straight sets.

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