Alexander Zverev will play at the same tournament as teenage sensation Joao Fonseca once again.
Zverev was frustrated at the Argentina Open, as his debut at the tournament did not go to plan following a quarter-final defeat to eventual runner-up Francisco Cerundolo.
This led to the German criticizing some members of the Buenos Aires crowd, with Zverev receiving backlash for his comments.
It has been a mixed start to the 2025 season for the world number two, with Zverev reaching the Australian Open final before losing to Jannik Sinner.
Nearly a month on from the first Grand Slam of the year, Zverev has commented on Sinner receiving a ban from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Alexander Zverev explains his relationship with Joao Fonseca
Although top seed Zverev could not win the title in Buenos Aires, 18-year-old Joao Fonseca triumphed at the Argentina Open to lift his first ATP trophy.
Fonseca made headlines at the Australian Open after getting his first Grand Slam main draw win over top 10 player Andrey Rublev.
The hype surrounding the Brazilian teenager has only heightened since his title win in Buenos Aires, with even Carlos Alcaraz reacting to Fonseca’s victory.
Fonseca has been given big ranking predictions already, having just reached his career-high of world number 68.
Now when speaking to press at the Rio Open, Zverev has revealed that he has regular contact with Fonseca, but suggested that he doesn’t want fans to get too carried away.
“I talk to him quite a bit,” said Zverev. “There’s still a long process in becoming top 20, competing for Masters, for Grand Slams.
“He’s doing all the right things, playing tennis the right way. Time will tell but he has everything to be a very good player.”
When could Alexander Zverev play Joao Fonseca at the Rio Open?
Zverev will look to move on from his disappointment from Buenos Aires when making his debut at the Rio Open.
Fonseca will also be present at the ATP 500 tournament as the home favourite and new Brazilian number one.
However, if there is to be a first-time meeting between Zverev and Fonseca they will both need to reach the semi-finals in Rio de Janeiro.
| Rio Open 2025 | Alexander Zverev’s Potential Draw | Joao Fonseca’s Potential Draw |
| First Round | Yunchaokete Bu | Alexandre Muller |
| Second Round | Alexander Shevchenko | Tomas Martin Etcheverry (8)/ Corentin Moutet |
| Quarter-final | Nicolas Jarry (6)/Francisco Comesana | Francisco Cerundolo (4)/Luciano Darderi |
| Semi-final | Francisco Cerundolo (4)/Tomas Martin Etcheverry (8)/ Joao Fonseca | Alexander Zverev (1)/Nicolas Jarry (6) |
| Final | Sebastian Baez (5)/Pedro Martinez (7) | Sebastian Baez (5)/Pedro Martinez (7) |
Both Zverev and Fonseca open their 2025 Rio Open campaigns on Tuesday February 18 against Yunchaokete Bu and Alexandre Muller, respectively.
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