Joao Fonseca has had a tough start to the 2026 season, just when fans were backing him to kick on.
After all, last year marked an outstanding one for the Brazilian, making his debut in all four majors and claiming main draw wins in all of them too.
However, a back injury curtailed the back-end of 2025, and has seemingly crept into the new season too.
Which Grand Slam title would you like to see Joao Fonseca win?
His early exit at the Australian Open had some worried for his physical state, and with this latest footage, fans’ fears have not been eased.
Tennis fans are worried for Joao Fonseca
The video in question was shared by Joao Fonseca Updates and showed him practising on his movement at the back of a clay court.
Preparing for a return to action in Buenos Aires, Joao Fonseca shuttled from one side of the court to the other, sliding as he turned.
However, the lack of explosiveness has some onlookers worried.
One wrote: “On a tennis + mental level, he seems by far the player with the most potential to compete with Alcaraz and Sinner in the medium term, but the thing is, on a physical level, he’s in another dimension.
“He’s miles off Sinner in mobility and light years behind Alcaraz. It’s going to be bloody tough finding that third piece.”
This was seemingly a popular opinion, as another claimed: “It pains me because I really like his game, but his mobility/explosiveness is going to cap him so much. You look at his lateral movements compared to Alcaraz and we’re in a different solar system.”
It was not all criticism though, with some advice mixed in too: “No offense and I’m a big fan of Fonseca too—I truly hope he can go far in his career. I really wish his coaching team could bring in a professional sprint coach to work on his mobility, and maybe incorporate standing long jump drills to boost his leg power and explosiveness.”
Maybe Joao Fonseca is not the next to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
For someone so young, it must be difficult to deal with the expectations placed upon Fonseca’s shoulders.
After all, he is one of the most well-supported players on the entire tour, followed by legions of Brazilian fans, no matter the tournament.
With all this support has come hype, and whilst he is clearly a supremely talented individual, it has perhaps led some to overstate his current place in the tennis world.
Some have even tipped him to be the next in line to challenge Alcaraz and Sinner, despite stars like Jack Draper and Ben Shelton being far better placed.
Where do you think Joao Fonseca will be ranked at the end of the 2026 season?
Novak Djokovic even praised Fonseca’s potential recently too.
Perhaps Fonseca is a little farther down the pecking order than first expected. However, that should not devalue or diminish the excitement surrounding this prodigious teenage talent.
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