The championship match at this year’s ATP Finals was a foregone conclusion before the event had begun.
Of course, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz would ultimately top their groups in Turin and sweep aside their respective semifinal opponents to set up one last clash in 2025.
The ‘new two’ have dominated the tour this year, having split all four major titles between them for the second consecutive season, while topping the ATP rankings with point tallies north of 11,000.
Their rivalry is one of the most compelling tennis has seen in a long time, and arguably already iconic, but as former British player Laura Robson recently pointed out, a two-horse race might get a bit stale after a while.
While there are certainly a number of candidates who could potentially close the gap on Sinner and Alcaraz, including Ben Shelton, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jack Draper, one name has been tipped more than any other this year: Joao Fonseca.
Joao Fonseca may feel the pressure of expectation in 2026
In his first full season on the ATP Tour, Fonseca slowly carved out an impressive 2025 campaign.
The 19-year-old Brazilian star, who burst onto the scene at last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals, has clinched two tour-level titles since January, and finished the season ranked 24th in the world; a career high.
Who will join Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in a new ‘big three’?
Fonseca has dealt with his rise to stardom incredibly and looks poised to be the third piece to a new ‘big three’ in men’s tennis.
However, with a great deal of expectation for him to reach the dizzy heights Sinner and Alcaraz have managed, pressure will begin to mount on the teenager heading into 2026.
His ranking means he will be seeded for the Australian Open in January, where, perhaps unfairly, all eyes will be on him to produce a lengthy run at a Grand Slam for the first time, following four indifferent finishes at majors in 2025.
| Grand Slam | Result | Lost To |
| Australian Open | Second Round | Lorenzo Sonego |
| Roland Garros | Third Round | Jack Draper |
| Wimbledon | Third Round | Nicolas Jarry |
| US Open | Second Round | Tomas Machac |
The reality is, not every star becomes a sensation this early in their careers, like Alcaraz or Rafael Nadal.
Look no further than the beginning of Roger Federer‘s career, during which four years passed by after his debut before the Swiss legend got his hands on a Grand Slam title.
Or even women’s number one, Aryna Sabalenka, who did not attain the top spot in the WTA rankings until the age of 25.
With such a large fanbase at his age, along with the media attention he will inevitably receive next season, tennis fans must be careful not to pile too much pressure on Fonseca to avoid hindering what looks to be a promising future in the sport.
Joao Fonseca’s achievements during the 2025 ATP season
Fonseca was off to a winning start in 2025 when he claimed a Challenger Tour title in Canberra, before earning, at the time, the biggest win of his young career at the Australian Open.
In the first round in Melbourne, Fonseca defeated ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets; a result that announced him to the tennis world.
He then secured a maiden ATP title at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, before winning another Challenger crown in Phoenix.
Results dipped in the months that followed, but after Fonseca made the wise decision to skip the Asian swing, he went on to win his biggest title so far; an ATP 500 on the indoor courts of Basel.
Fonseca ended his debut season with a win-loss record of 26-16, and, more importantly, has shown plenty of improvement throughout the year.
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