Carlos Alcaraz makes Joao Fonseca prediction after teenager’s ‘unbelievable’ Grand Slam debut

Shahida Jacobs
Pictured: Joao Fonseca and Carlos Alcaraz
Joao Fonseca with Carlos in the inset

Joao Fonseca is the name on everyone’s lips at the Australian Open and Carlos Alcaraz was asked for his views on the teenage sensation.

Playing in his maiden Grand Slam main draw, Fonseca stunned world No 9 Andrey Rublev in straight sets to become only the second teenager to beat a top-10 player in their first-ever major match since the ATP Rankings was introduced in 1973.

Mario Ancic was the first to achieve the feat when he defeated Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2002 and more than two decades later the 18-year-old Brazilian made it a two-man list club.

But Fonseca has been tipped for big things from a young age as last year tennis great Novak Djokovic stated: “I saw him play. He plays really well. He reminds me of my game.”

The teenager ended the 2024 season on a high as he won the Next Gen ATP Finals and finished at No 145 in the rankings.

He rose to No 112 ahead of the start of the Australian Open, but is now set to surge into the top 100 after his stunning win over Rublev and surely there are more jumps to come.

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One man who knows about rising up the rankings as a teenager is Alcaraz as he also made his top 100 debut at the age of 18 while he became the youngest world No 1 the following year as he reached top spot after his 2022 US Open title run.

Although the four-time Grand Slam winner while he doesn’t want to put too much pressure on the youngster, he predicted that “we’re going to put Joao Fonseca’s name on the list of the best players in the world really soon”.

The Spaniard said: “I saw it. I saw a little bit. I couldn’t watch the whole match. I saw a little bit at the beginning and the end of the match.

“What can I say about it? Just incredible. I mean, the way he played his first Grand Slam match against his first top 10 [opponent], it’s unbelievable.

“The way he approached the match, the way he handled everything, the nerves, the match in general, it’s been fantastic.

“It’s someone that I have to be careful of, let’s say… He’s going to be there. It is just the beginning of the year, just one win in [a] Grand Slam, but he’s going to be there. We’re going to put Joao Fonseca’s name on the list of the best players in the world really soon.”

Fonseca himself is taking everything in his stride.

He raced into a two-set to love lead and while a lot of others would feel the nerves when the finish line approached, the Brazilian stayed mentally strong and wrapped it up 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

“I knew the pressure was coming [against Rublev],” the teen said. “Everything was new for me, but for me, I was not the favourite. I was trying to enter the court with just, OK, I’m an 18-year-old guy, he’s a top-10 guy. I’m going to do my best here.

“Of course, I’m confident. I know I can win, but no pressure on myself. That’s what I was trying to do.

“But, of course, when I was two sets to love, I was thinking a little bit more, OK, maybe I’m going to win this match, and I need to focus, need to keep pushing.

“The nerves, of course, came, but I mentally stayed.”