The tennis world awaits the Grand Slam main draw debut of Joao Fonseca at this year’s Australian Open.
There hasn’t been this much hype around a Grand Slam debut since Carlos Alcaraz burst onto the scene at the 2021 Australian Open.
18-year-old Brazilian star Fonseca qualified for the Australian Open, and is preparing to make his Major debut next week.
Fonseca will play Andrey Rublev in the first round, a three-time quarter-finalist in Melbourne, with many tipping the youngster to pull off the upset.
The world number 113 broke through at the end of 2024, as Fonseca won the Next Gen ATP Finals, going unbeaten at the event.
One big tennis name has now said how he thinks Fonseca should have been better rewarded for his Next Gen Finals win.
Jon Wertheim and Andy Roddick ‘fully disagree’ over whether Joao Fonseca deserved an Australian Open Wildcard
Speaking on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, Jon Wertheim was full of praise for the young Brazilian.
“Everyone has identified this guy as a talent,” he said.
“He’s from a part of the world we could use some more tennis talent from, there hasn’t been a lot of Brazilian talents.
“He goes and he wins in Jeddah, the Next Gen final.”
Wertheim went on to argue that Fonseca shouldn’t have been made to qualify for the Australian Open.
“What do they do? Tennis makes him qualify for the next event,” he said.
“So he doesn’t have a five next to his name, he has a Q next to his name.
“It means he’s not only crossed oceans but has played a lot of tennis, I worry, young kid, he has already had to play three matches.
“Tons of talent, everyone is talking about him, but can you not give him a wild card?
“Now he comes and plays a seed with six sets under his belt.”
Wertheim’s co-host Andy Roddick was strongly against his idea, instead reiterating the view that players should qualify for the event on merit.
“No! Fully disagree,” he said.
“If your ranking hasn’t gotten you in, he played all last year, he was healthy, no, You don’t get a free pass!
“You take it away from an Aussie player just because it happens to be the first Slam of the year?”
What have Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios said about Joao Fonseca?
Roddick and Wertheim may have disagreed over whether Fonseca deserved a Wildcard to the Australian Open, but there are no arguments over the 18-year-old’s talents.
The tennis world is more than aware that they could have a new star on their hands, and two of the biggest names on the ATP Tour have recently given their thoughts on the Brazilian.
Controversial Aussie Nick Kyrgios recently praised Fonseca, claiming that he could soon reach the very top of men’s tennis.
“You look at someone like [Joao] Fonseca as well, who is 17, 18 years old, playing ridiculous tennis,” he said.
“He’s like the next, next generation, he’s going to be knocking on the door pretty soon, as well.”
World number 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas also spoke highly of Fonseca, in an interview ahead of the 2025 United Cup.
“I’m happy for him, he’s a very humble kid,” he said.
“I personally believe it’s just the beginning of him rising up in the rankings and showing his actual true potential.
“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.”
Fonseca will look to start ‘delivering’ at this year’s Australian Open, as he gets underway against Rublev on Tuesday, January 14.
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