Jannik Sinner has been the leading player on the ATP Tour in 2024 and is the current world number one.
Sinner won two Grand Slam titles in 2024, at the Australian and US Open, as well as picking up three Masters 1000 titles, in an excellent year for the Italian.
In fact, the 24-year-old has been so dominant that his only defeat in eight ATP finals this year came when Sinner lost to Alcaraz in the Beijing Open Final earlier this month.
It hasn’t been a year without controversy, however, as Sinner could potentially face a ban for a doping violation he committed earlier this season.
All news, good and bad, has thrust Sinner into the spotlight and helped establish himself as one of the biggest names in the sport.
A position, that has allowed him to give advice to some of the younger players on the ATP Tour.
Jannik Sinner told Joao Fonseca he needed to ‘turn pro right away’
Joao Fonseca is one of the fastest-rising stars on the ATP Tour, and fans have high hopes for the 18-year-old Brazilian.
Last year, whilst the pair trained together ahead of Sinner’s participation in the ATP Finals in Turin, Sinner questioned Fonseca’s plan to go to University rather than turn pro – as per Supertennis.tv.
“Are you really going to university?” he said.
“You’re too good for university, turn pro right away.”
Fonseca took on Sinner’s recommendation and decided against attending Virginia University, instead taking his place on the ATP Tour.
It was a successful move for Fonseca, who is set to appear in this year’s Next Gen Finals after a strong rookie season.
The Brazilian will be looking to replicate Sinner’s success at the tournament when he heads to Jeddah next month.
“Many good players have won the Next Gen finals, but the one I really see myself in is Sinner,” he said.
“I really like his aggressive game, technically he is my point of reference.”
Who is Joao Fonseca and how good is he?
18-year-old Fonseca has risen to just outside the world’s top 150 in his first year on the ATP Tour.
Primarily taking part in Challenger Tour events, the young Brazilian has impressed fans and produced some big shocks en route to the Rio Open quarter-finals earlier this year.
His talents have been noticed by a number of high-profile names in the sport, with Roger Federer signing Fonseca to his clothing brand – On.
It’s impossible to say just how good Fonseca can be but his most recent performances at the Davis Cup were tough to ignore.
Fonseca took down ATP mainstay Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets whilst also impressing in a defeat to former Grand Slam finalist Matteo Berrettini.
With performances like those, it may not be too long before we see Fonseca challenging the likes of Sinner at the biggest tournaments on the ATP calendar.
Fonseca will return to action in the last 16 of the Brest Challenger event against Billy Harris on Thursday.
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