Is Joao Fonseca the Neymar of tennis? This is the question being asked as the young Brazilian tennis prodigy draws inspiration from his idol, Neymar. After defeating Ugo Humbert at the Miami Open, Humbert himself likened Fonseca`s playing style to that of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
The Miami Open crowd was thrilled as 18-year-old Joao Fonseca advanced to the third round, achieving a straight-sets victory over the 19th-seeded Frenchman, Ugo Humbert.
The rising star from Rio de Janeiro is set to face Australia`s Alex de Minaur next on Monday.
Fonseca`s impressive 6-4, 6-3 victory made him the youngest player to reach the Miami Open third round since Juan Martin del Potro in 2007. He is also the youngest to reach the third round of an ATP Masters 1000 event since Carlos Alcaraz in Paris in 2021.
Fonseca explained his choice to pursue tennis over football, stating that an injury at age 11 or 12 led him to switch sports. He found a dedicated coach a year or six months ago, which further solidified his commitment to tennis, a decision he believes was right.
Fonseca, who had a thrilling first-round win against fellow teenager Learner Tien, credits Brazilian football star Neymar as a major inspiration.
“I really admire Neymar`s skills and loved watching him play. I also enjoyed Ronaldinho, even though I didn`t see as much of him. In Brazil, we call Ronaldinho `The Witch`,” Fonseca shared.
Humbert was struck by Fonseca`s aggressive style of play during their match, which was moved to the main stadium, causing disappointment for Brazilian fans who had hoped to see him on the Grandstand court.
Speaking to the French newspaper L`Equipe, Humbert commented, “I`ve rarely faced someone who plays with such speed. It reminded me of playing against Alcaraz in the Davis Cup and Sinner in Rome. He was faster than me in every aspect of the game; he played exceptionally well.”
Fonseca`s Journey So Far
Joao Fonseca from Brazil has become a prominent young talent in tennis. He notably upset ninth-seed Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open.
He also made history as the first player born in 2006 to win an ATP Tour singles title, winning the Argentina Open final against Francisco Cerundolo last month with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (7-1).
After his victory, Fonseca expressed his ambitions: “This week has been incredible for me. Of course, I aim to be No. 1 and win Grand Slams.”
The Next Gen ATP Finals champion has rapidly climbed the ranks, breaking into the top 100. Within a year, Fonseca`s ranking soared from No. 651 to a career-high of world No. 60 before the Miami Open.
He is the youngest player in the top 100 since Alcaraz in October 2021 and the youngest Brazilian ever to reach this milestone.
“The impact in Brazil is huge. People are starting to know me better, which is very nice. Brazilians are very enthusiastic and supportive of promising young talents,” Fonseca noted. “However, it`s important to stay focused. With increased attention and expectations, I need to concentrate on my routine and keep working hard.”
When asked about his biggest strength, Fonseca identified his forehand.
His forehand speed reached 113mph during his match against Humbert in Miami. His average shot speed is 81mph, surpassing the tour average of 76mph. His spin rate is also notably high at 3,019 rotations per minute, compared to the tour average of 2,844rpm.
Tennis Channel commentator Mark Petchey, who has worked with Emma Raducanu, remarked, “He seems to have reached a new level. While I was already impressed watching him at the Next Gen ATP Finals, the ease with which he hits winners now is remarkable.”
When asked about the greatest tennis player of all time, Fonseca stated, “Federer, without a doubt. While Djokovic may be statistically the best, for me, Federer is the greatest – unmatched.”
