"That was really nice for my maturity" - Joao Fonseca on how being detached from social media helped him grow as a player

Rising tennis star Joao Fonseca has been one of the breakout players of the 2025 ATP season, and the Brazilian believes setting his cell phone aside has aided in his rapid progress.

The 18-year old announced his arrival on tour after defeating ninth seeded Russian Andrey Rublev in the opening round of the 2025 Australian Open. Fonseca would go on to win his maiden ATP title at the Argentina Open two weeks later, making his intentions clear regarding his ascent up the ATP ladder.

The Rio de Janeiro native enjoyed a close bond with his family, Fonseca's mother played volleyball as a junior whereas his father co-founded IP Capital Partners, Brazil’s first independent asset management firm. Fonseca revealed his parents had always encouraged him to not get attached to his cell phone growing up, a tactic that seems to be paying off as Fonseca continues to mature.

"Both of my parents always supported me to go outside, stay off social media or cell phones,” said Fonseca. “We have a house in the mountains, a lot of nature, and we did a lot of cycling, soccer. I loved to go there with my brothers and friends, just to play some sports. That was really nice for my maturity, to be responsible, to not stay very much on the phone.
“I know my generation is really into the phone so it helped me. I like to stay with my phone, of course, but I’m not into social media any more. I know when I can stay with my phone and when I can’t."

Fonseca's playing style has drawn comparisons to that of his idol, Swiss legend Roger Federer, with both players employing precision mixed with raw power. Although there is a huge amount of pressure and expectations on the Brazilian, he believes it to be a privilege rather than a burden.

"My coach [Guilherme Teixeira] always says to me that I like playing with pressure,” said Fonseca. “Sometimes I stay very nervous and sometimes the pressure puts my heart on alert and I play better. You just need to adapt and, when the nerves are coming, you need to find a way to win.
“I do some breathing exercises. It helped me sometimes. I think it [comes with] experience and maturity. It’s going to help me to be a better player and a better person."

Currently ranked at World No.57, Fonseca hopes to break into the top 50 following his appearance at the upcoming Wimbledon Championships. The teenager wrapped up his grass court preparations with a round of 16 showing at the ongoing Eastbourne Open, where he lost to top seed and defending champion Taylor Fritz.