What Joao Fonseca has achieved in 2025 is ‘no surprise whatsoever’ according to former Grand Slam finalist

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Joao Fonseca has enjoyed a brilliant first full season on the ATP Tour.

The Brazilian made headlines in January when Fonseca stunned Andrey Rublev in the first round of the Australian Open.

Shortly after, Fonseca won his maiden ATP title at the Argentina Open, becoming one of the youngest champions in recent history.

Last time out in Basel, Fonseca picked up the biggest win of his career, winning the Swiss Indoors ATP 500 title, defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the final.

Thanks to his efforts in Switzerland, Fonseca broke into the top 30, as he continued his charge up the rankings.

However, while his efforts in 2025 have been impressive, one former Grand Slam finalist insists he’s not been ‘surprised’ by Fonseca this year.

Luke Saville says ‘it’s no surprise whatsoever’ seeing Joao Fonseca break into the top 30

During the latest episode of ‘The Tennis’, former Grand Slam doubles finalist Luke Saville gave his verdict on the talented young Brazilian.

“I think there was a poll going out at the start of the year, on where people think he’ll finish the year. In my eyes, I saw him at Challengers two or three years ago, and he wasn’t quite breaking through there, but you saw the game, you saw the potential,” he said.

“It’s no surprise whatsoever to me that he’s climbed up the rankings and is 30 in the world.”

Saville proceeded to highlight the area of Fonseca’s game which he finds ‘incredible’.

“The weight of his ball… I think he got some wild cards into that South American swing a few years back. He wasn’t winning, but it was quite incredible, the ball striking,” he said.

“I don’t know his record against the top, top players, but I think we forget he’s still 18, 19.”

Despite only breaking through recently, Fonseca has already won 11 ATP matches against top-30 opponents.

Joao Fonseca’s wins over top-30 players

• [9] Andrey Rublev – 2025 Australian Open 1R
• [18] Alejandro Davidovich Fokina – 2025 Swiss Indoors F
• [18] Alejandro Davidovich Fokina – 2025 Cincinnati Open R64
• [20] Ugo Humbert – 2025 Miami Open R64
• [20] Arthur Fils – 2024 Next Gen Finals RR
• [23] Denis Shapovalov – 2025 Swiss Indoors QF
• [24] Denis Shapovalov – 2025 Paris Masters R64
• [25] Flavio Cobolli – 2025 Laver Cup RR
• [27] Stefanos Tsitsipas – 2025 Davis Cup WG1
• [28] Hubert Hurkacz – 2025 French Open 1R
• [28] Francisco Cerundolo – 2025 Argentina Open F

Those wins have seen him become a top-30 player himself, as the 19-year-old is now ranked 28th in the world.

Winning his opening match at the Paris Masters, Fonseca jumped four more places in the live rankings to 24th, as he no doubt has ambitions of breaking into the top-20 before too long.

He’ll have to wait till 2026 to do so, but could still have more tennis to play in 2025…

Where will Joao Fonseca head next after the Paris Masters?

Beating Denis Shapovalov for the second time in five days, Fonseca advanced to the second round of the Paris Masters, where he met Russia’s Karen Khachanov.

Unfortunately for Fonseca, it was there that his run came to an end, losing in three sets, 1-6, 6-3, 3-6.

He was originally scheduled to appear at the new Hellenic Championship ATP 250 event in Athens, Greece, but chose to withdraw after losing in Paris.

The Brazilian will surely rest up for a few weeks before potentially heading over to Saudi Arabia to defend his Next Gen title.

In 2024, Fonseca became the seventh player to win the Next Gen Finals, defeating Learner Tien in the final.

Nobody has ever successfully defended the title, although you wouldn’t want to bet against Fonseca doing so in December.

The 19-year-old is qualified for the event and would travel to the Middle East as the second seed, behind Jakub Mensik.

Top eight in the Next Gen Finals race

• 1. Jakub Mensik (Czechia)
• 2. Joao Fonseca (Brazil)
• 3. Learner Tien (USA)
• 4. Dino Prizmic (Croatia)
• 5. Martin Landaluce (Spain)
• 6. Nicolai Budkov Kjaer (Norway)
• 7. Alexander Blockx (Belgium)
• 8. Nishesh Basavareddy (USA)

Only time will tell if we will see Fonseca take to the field in Jeddah, but it will certainly be something to look out for.

The 2025 Next Gen Finals are scheduled to begin in December.