Joao Fonseca matches stunning Sinner & Alcaraz feat after lifting Next Gen Finals title
Joao Fonseca matched current ATP Tour stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as he became just the third man to lift the Next Gen ATP Finals title at age 18.
Brazilian prodigy Fonseca did not lose a match all week and downed Learner Tien in a four-set final to cement his place as one of the brightest prospects in men’s tennis.
Having toppled Tien and leading contenders Arthur Fils and Jakub Mensik in round-robin action, the 18-year-old then breezed past Luca Van Assche to set up a rematch against Tien.
It was the American who started the better of the two but Fonseca – the lowest-ranked player in the draw, and also the youngest – rallied in a tight second set.
Fonseca would eventually run away with victory after taking set two, with the world No 145 sealing a 2-4, 4-3(8), 4-0, 4-2 triumph in Jeddah.
“I was really nervous before the match. I knew it was going to be difficult,” said Fonseca.
“I played already a final against Learner in juniors, and I know the way that he can play. He’s such a nice guy and such a great player, so I knew it was going to be difficult mentally and physically.
“Honestly, I don’t know how I did it in the second set. I was just trying to keep my game, my serve – I was not playing my best at the beginning, I was too nervous.
“After the second set, the third set I was more aggressive, going for my shots, and I think he got a little bit more tight. In the fourth set, I just did my best – and I got the win.
“It’s just unreal. I’m just very proud of myself.”
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The Brazilian is yet to qualify for the main draw of a Grand Slam event but has now matched current world No 1 Sinner and four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz by triumphing at the Next Gen Finals.
Aged 18 years and four months, Fonseca is the second-youngest champion at the event since the tournament first launched, with Sinner the only man to win the title at a younger age.
The Italian was 18 years and 2 months old when he triumphed in Milan in 2019, with Alcaraz’s 2021 triumph at 18 years and 6 months making him the third-youngest champion.
Fonseca, Sinner, and Alcaraz are the only teenagers to lift the title, with Stefanos Tsitsipas – 20 years and 2 months old in 2018 – then the next youngest to triumph.
All eyes will now be on what Fonseca will be able to achieve over the next 12 months.
The Brazilian lost in the third round of US Open qualifying in August – his best major showing to date – but a significant Grand Slam run in 2025 would surprise very few.
Fonseca will also be backed by many to potentially win his first ATP Tour title and crack the top 100 of the ATP Rankings across the coming season.
List of Next Gen ATP Finals champions and ages
2017: Hyeon Chung – 21 years, 5 months
2018: Stefanos Tsitsipas – 20 years, 2 months
2019: Jannik Sinner – 18 years, 2 months
2021: Carlos Alcaraz – 18 years, 6 months
2022: Brandon Nakashima – 21 years, 3 months
2023: Hamad Medjedovic – 20 years, 4 months
2024: Joao Fonseca – 18 years, 4 months
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