Joao Fonseca has enjoyed a stunning rise on the ATP Tour, with further success now being eyed at the French Open.
Fonseca has already been identified as the next Carlos Alcaraz, with the former currently sitting 65th in the ATP rankings.
He boasts a 9-5 win-loss record in 2025 so far, with Fonseca having won his first ATP title at the Argentina Open in February.
That arrived after the 18-year-old burst onto the scene at the Australian Open, fresh from winning the NextGen ATP Finals at the end of 2024.
Fonseca made it through qualifying in Melbourne to beat Andrey Rublev in round one, before suffering defeat to Lorenzo Sonego in round two.
Joao Fonseca confident of reaching French Open third round
Alexander Zverev thinks Fonseca can break the top 10, with a ranking rise certainly among the teenager’s goals.
He told the French Open website: “I’m progressing quickly. Now, reaching the third round of a Grand Slam is on my list of goals.
READ MORE: What other ATP Tour players are now saying about Joao Fonseca after his rapid rise in recent weeks
“Maybe Roland Garros? I play well on clay, I was born and raised on this surface, so I’m confident. In the future, I would aim to become No. 1, that’s my dream.
“But I know the road is long. I have to work even harder and progress step by step. I need to have more experiences, like this one.
“Roland Garros will be my first direct qualification for a Grand Slam. All this helps me to develop and evolve, while putting in the necessary work. I think this is how I will achieve my highest goals.”
Joao Fonseca says why he thinks he has a lot of fans
Fonseca’s superb tennis has, of course, been crucial to his exceptional rise, but his support has also played a key role.
The youngster has managed to acquire a massive following wherever he plays despite his brief career so far.
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He is very much the new adored player on the ATP Tour, with that following certain to boost his confidence on court and indeed intimidate his opponents.
And despite his youth, the 18-year-old has dealt with the pressure of a large fan base superbly, often giving his supporters plenty of reasons to celebrate wildly.
Discussing his relationship with those followers, the current world number 65 noted: “They give me energy.
“The public may like me because I play quite aggressively and aim for winners, but you can’t just let the ball go through on important points. I have courage in those moments, I play those shots instinctively. I’m not afraid of anything.”
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