Joao Fonseca, the Brazilian phenom who swept the Next Gen ATP Finals

Brazilian tennis is once again a protagonist on the international scene thanks to Joao Fonseca, a young talent who at the age of 18 has managed to be crowned champion of the Next Gen ATP Finals. Defeating more experienced opponents on his way to the title in Jeddah, Fonseca emerges as one of the names to watch closely in 2025.

A new champion for a tournament on the rise

The Next Gen ATP Finals held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is a tournament that brings together the best U21 players in the world. In this context, Joao Fonseca (No. 144) showed what he is made of by beating the likes of Arthur Fils, current No. 20 in the ranking, and Jakub Mensik (No. 48).

Joao grew as the matches went on. Both Mensik and Fils pushed him to the limit, but the South American knew how to respond, especially in the epic battle of the last day of the Round Robin against the Czech, taking the tiebreak of the 5th set in a match not suitable for cardiacs.

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In the semifinals he easily eliminated Lucas Van Asche in straight sets and in the final he defeated again Learner Tien, whom he had already beaten in the group stage, losing only one set in each of those matches.

The title reaffirms his position as a rising star, making history at his young age by being the first Brazilian player to do so and joining an elite group of former champions of the event.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the players who dominated the Grand Slams in 2024 and who are called to be the future of tennis, also lifted the trophy in the Next Gen. The Italian did it in 2019 and the Spaniard was crowned in 2021.

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Brazilian men's tennis is making a comeback 

After Gustavo Kuerten's retirement, Brazilian tennis entered a period of lesser importance in major tournaments. During the golden age, Guga dominated on clay, winning Roland Garros three times and reaching the top of the ranking at the end of 2000. Almost a quarter of a century later, a new jewel has appeared and is aiming for the top.

A promising future

Joao Fonseca was born on August 21, 2006 in Rio de Janeiro. With a height of 1.85 meters and a well-developed physique, the Brazilian has the tools to compete at the highest level, starting with an excellent service that scares to think that he will continue to improve.

His style of play is very similar to that of the Italian number 1, Jannik Sinner, although more aggressive. His movements are agile, covering the court very well and being a threat when he hits firmly from the back court. He is a very complicated opponent for long exchanges.

He has a very solid two-handed backhand with many variations, so although it is not his main weapon, he can also attack with this shot.

His forehand is a serious thing, he hits the ball with a hammer, resulting in many winners. On the run he gets very good angles and if the opponent does not play deep he quickly uses this shot to take the initiative of the point.

Competitive mentality

After winning in Jeddah, Fonseca declared:
"Winning this tournament is a dream come true, but I know that I still have a lot to learn and improve".

"I have improved a lot physically and mentally. I've been very strong mentally, as I've won matches against Top-50 and Top-20 tennis players. I am proud of myself, but I want more. My dream is to be No. 1," said the young tennis player.

When it comes to choosing his favorite tournament, Joao has no doubts. For the Brazilian, contrary to what one would think after growing up in a country that has historically gotten along very well with clay, the tournament he would most like to win is Wimbledon, placing it above all the majors, including Roland Garros.

It is clear that his maturity is not at all commensurate with his age, showing an unusual focus and determination for a recently turned 18 year old.

The decision that changed everything

In 2024, Fonseca made a decision that surprised many: he chose to dedicate himself to professional tennis instead of accepting a scholarship to study at the University of Virginia and compete in college tennis as other players such as Ben Shelton or Danielle Collins have previously done. A choice that is in keeping with her commitment to reach the top of the tennis world and her determination to advance quickly on the ATP circuit.

Joao Fonseca at the Next Gen Finals.

Aiming to be an all-rounder

Unlike many South American players who have traditionally excelled primarily on clay, Joao has shown that he can translate his game to different surfaces. The victory in Jeddah is proof of that.

This year he also scored his first victory on the ATP circuit, playing at home, at the Rio Open and against Arhur Fils, whom he would defeat again in Jeddah. He reached the final of the Paraguay Open and the semis of the Buenos Aires Challenger.

At Wimbledon he could not get past the first match of the qualifying round, and at the US Open he was knocked out in the third match of the qualifying round.

In August, he won his first Challenger title in Lexington, becoming the youngest champion of the season in this category.

Expectations for 2025

With a phenomenal closing of the 2024 season, Joao Fonseca's prospects for the upcoming season are high. His immediate goal should be to continue climbing positions in the ATP ranking to be in the main draw of the most prestigious tournaments;

If he can continue on this upward trajectory, Fonseca could be one of the Tour's benchmarks in the years to come.

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