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Coco Gauff’s former coach makes big ranking prediction about Joao Fonseca after his Australian Open win over Andrey Rublev

Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images
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Joao Fonseca has won his first senior Grand Slam main draw match after beating Andrey Rublev in the first round of the Australian Open.

Fonseca won the ATP Next Gen Finals last year, and is now currently on a 14-match winning streak.

The Brazilian made headlines after beating world number nine Rublev in straight sets, with some fans even pitting Fonseca alongside Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

Although this may seem a bold claim, Fonseca has broken a Roger Federer record in his Grand Slam debut.

2025 Australian Open - Day 3
Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Brad Gilbert predicts Joao Fonseca to reach ATP Finals

Brad Gilbert, who coached Coco Gauff until September, has also expressed his excitement about the teenage sensation.

After previously predicted Fonseca to end the year ranked inside the top 25, but has now suggested that he could be reach the year-end ATP Finals.

“Fonseca level for 18 let alone any age is simply off the charts his easy power and composure right now his level is easily top 10, I said last month would finish 25 now seeing year end championships,” Gilbert said on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Gilbert is not the only person to have predicted big things for Fonseca, with ATP Challenger player and tennis YouTuber Karue Sell also backing him to break inside the top 10.

“Barring injuries, Fonseca top 10 in 18 months. Needless to say, kid is the truth,” said Sell. “22 winners in a set and a game? Like what?”

What is Joao Fonseca’s current ranking forecast?

Fonseca broke inside the top 200 last year, and after his first round win at the Australian Open is now forecasted to move into the top 100.

With big points on the line at Grand Slams, Fonseca will move inside the top 90 if he beats his second round opponent Lorenzo Sonego.

Stage of tournamentFonseca’s ranking pointsWhere he would currently rank
First Round560No.108
Second Round600No.102
Third Round650No.86
Fourth Round750No.76
Quarter Final950No.60
Semi Final1350No.36
Final 1850No.24
Title2550No.18

Fonseca will play Sonego on Thursday January 16, having beat the Italian in their only previous meeting on the clay of Bucharest.