Joao Fonseca burst onto the scene at the Australian Open with a huge win over a top-ten opponent.
The Brazilian youngster stole the show in Melbourne earlier this year, as Fonseca beat Andrey Rublev in the Australian Open first round.
Fonseca had won three qualifying rounds to advance to his first Grand Slam main draw before securing a maiden career top-ten win against Rublev.
He went on to lose to ATP star Lorenzo Sonego in the second round but had certainly gotten the tennis world talking during his time down under.
Fonseca rose to 99th in the world rankings following the Australian Open, breaking into the top 100 for the first time.
As he looks to continue his rapid rise, one top tennis coach has now revealed what other ATP stars are saying about Fonseca.
Patrick Mouratoglou says ATP Tour stars are predicting Joao Fonseca to finish 2025 in the top ten
Speaking on Instagram, Naomi Osaka’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou gave his thoughts on Fonseca.
“I love [Joao] Fonseca, he’s the new big thing coming up and I think he’s so exciting,” said Mouratoglou.
“His personality is like a sun, he’s shining, very good serve, very good backhand, forehand, literal bomb, I mean he hit a forehand at 180kmh, the fastest of the [Australian Open] tournament.
“He has the fire in the racket but he has the fire also in his personality, you see that the guy wants it and you can feel his ambition, his ambition is huge.”
Mouratoglou then revealed what he’s heard top ATP stars saying about Fonseca over recent weeks.
“Now the pressure is coming up already for him because what he has achieved already puts him on a spot,” he said.
“I hear players saying already that Fonseca is going to be top ten before the end of the season.
“Imagine the progression that people see him do in such a short period of time, so let’s see how he will react.”
The French coach had his own prediction as to where he thinks Fonseca will reach in the world rankings.
“You can see him really at the top of the game, in the top three,” he said.
Mouratoglou then explained how Fonseca and several other men’s tennis stars are leading a change in the sport.
“There is a change in body types of tennis players that we’ve seen in recent years,” he said.
“They are taller and taller, thinner and thinner.
“Fonseca is one of those, incredible power, incredible forehand going so fast, that’s the new tennis.”
What’s next for Joao Fonseca after breakthrough Australian Open tournament?
Fonseca has traveled to Orleans for Brazil’s Davis Cup tie with France this week, as he looks to continue his early season form.
The Brazilian faced a tough test in his opening match against top 15 star Ugo Humbert, narrowly coming up short, 5-7, 3-6.
Fonseca will next play Arthur Fils on Sunday, who he beat twice in 2024, at the Rio Open, and Next Gen ATP Finals.
After Brazil’s Davis Cup tie, Fonseca will head back to his native South America, for two ATP Tour events in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.
The 18-year-old will be appearing in Argentina for the first time but is no stranger to Rio, where he reached the quarter-finals in 2024.
Entering the tournament as a Wild Card, Fonseca beat Fils, and Cristian Garin to reach his first ATP quarter-final.
The result saw Fonseca make headlines for the first time, something that many expect him to continue doing for years to come.
Fonseca will return to the ATP Tour for the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, which begins on February 10.
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