Joao Fonseca has confirmed he is feeling healthy again after returning to winning ways at Indian Wells.
Fonseca beat Raphael Collignon 7-6(7-2), 6-4 in their first round meeting at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in California.
The Brazilian superstar entered Indian Wells with a 1-3 record for 2026, having previously been struggling with a back injury.
Fonseca withdrew from Brisbane and Adelaide at the start of the season, before taking on the Australian Open, Argentina Open and Rio Open.
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Joao Fonseca feeling ‘healthy’ after Indian Wells win
Fonseca lost his opening matches in Melbourne and Buenos Aires, before picking up one singles win and the doubles title in Rio alongside compatriot Marcelo Mio.
As quoted by the ATP website, he’s now provided a fitness update, saying at Indian Wells: “It’s always good.
“After the first two months of the year, I’ve been struggling a little bit with injury, and then back [getting the] rhythm.
“I’m feeling healthy again, feeling happy back on court again. I’m just feeling good and very happy the way that I played today.”
He achieved the victory after one hour and 42 minutes, during which he hit 31 winners and 21 unforced errors.
| Joao Fonseca | Raphael Collignon | |
| 6/9 (67%) | Net points won | 7/9 (78%) |
| 31 | Winners | 17 |
| 21 | Unforced errors | 22 |
| 47/64 (73%) | Service points won | 46/77 (60%) |
| 31/77 (40%) | Return points won | 17/64 (27%) |
| 78/141 (55%) | Total points won | 63/141 (45%) |
Joao Fonseca admits what he ‘can’t change’ about his game
Fonseca also analysed his game after the win, which has set up a second round tie with 16th seed Karen Khachanov.
He explained: “It was always my thing to hit hard. Mostly on the important points when a little bit of pressure comes, I wanted to go for it.
“I wanted to do what I normally practised, not only [push] the ball. I was always like this and that’s going to be me for forever. That’s a thing I can’t change.
“I just need to be more solid, of course, and more consistent. I need to improve with the consistency, but that’s me, I can’t change.”
At just 19 years old, Fonseca has a lot of time to improve and find that consistency, which current world number one Carlos Alcaraz certainly used to struggle with.
Now 22, Alcaraz is hugely consistent, highlighted by his two titles from his two tournaments played in the 2026 season so far.
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Joao Fonseca’s potential route to Indian Wells success
Fonseca will be on a high after getting back to winning ways, but a formidable foe now awaits in the form of Khachanov.
And the draw won’t get any easier after that, with home favorite Tommy Paul representing a possible third round opponent.
Playing on home soil, Paul would be heavily backed in that potential match, but Fonseca does attract huge support wherever he plays.
After that, he could meet Jannik Sinner as early as the round of 16, with American duo Ben Shelton and Learner Tien possible quarterfinal ties.
A semifinal against Alexander Zverev or Lorenzo Musetti is then possible, as is a final against Carlos Alcaraz should he make it that far.
| Year | Titles | Tournaments |
| 2025 | 2 | Basel (Indoor/Hard) Buenos Aires (Outdoor/Clay) |
Once ranked as high as 24th, Fonseca is currently ranked 35th, and is now seeking a third career ATP title.
Both of those titles arrived in 2025, shortly after the Brazilian clinched the title at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals.
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