Joao Fonseca has just announced himself to Grand Slam tennis in spectacular fashion with his superb Australian Open round one win against Andrey Rublev.
Fonseca won the NextGen ATP Finals last month, before clinching a second ATP Challenger Tour title in Canberra earlier this month.
The 18-year-old Brazilian has since stormed his way through Australian Open qualifying without dropping a single set.
But Fonseca has just taken his career to another level, with the teenager overcoming ninth seed Rublev in straight sets on Margaret Court Arena.
Playing his first ever Grand Slam main draw match, the Brazilian overpowered world number nine Rublev to win 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-6(5).
When Novak Djokovic said teenage sensation Joao Fonseca plays ‘really well’
Currently occupying a career-high ranking of 112, the teenager did, however, impress 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic long ago.
Asked to name his dark horse on clay back in April 2024, the legendary Serbian turned to the impressive youngster.
READ MORE: Australian Open 2025: How to watch, prize money, dates and everything you need to know
“Fonseca the Brazilian,” said Djokovic, as quoted by Tennis365. “I saw him play. He plays really well. He reminds me of my game.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas predicted ‘big things’ for Joao Fonseca after NextGen ATP Finals win
The Australian Open is, of course, a hard-court Grand Slam, meaning Fonseca could potentially be even more dangerous when the French Open comes around.
For now, however, his focus turns to round two in Melbourne, where he has earned himself a meeting with Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
Intriguingly, Djokovic wasn’t the only ATP icon left impressed by Fonseca last year, with world number 12 Stefanos Tsitsipas sharing a similar opinion after the Brazilian lifted the NextGen ATP Finals trophy.
Asked in Greece’s opening United Cup press conference last month for his thoughts on the Brazilian, Tsitsipas said: “I was talking to him in Halle this year. We had a few hours together.
“He was someone I already saw potential in before he wins the NextGen Finals. I was sure he was going to be someone that is going to show big results in the upcoming months.
“I personally believe it’s just the beginning of him raising up in the rankings and showing his actual true potential.
“I’m happy for him. He’s a very humble kid. That’s what I liked about him. I had a conversation. I really liked how down to earth he is, how determined and focused in regards of his goals he is. That is something that definitely stood out.
“I think we’re going to see big things from him in the next few years, as long as he stays the same way he is now. I see no reason he would under-deliver.”
Tsitsipas will currently be empathising with Rublev, with the former having lost his Australian Open first round match to another NextGen ATP Finals ace in Alex Michelsen.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
