Who is Joao Fonseca’s coach? Former ATP pro Guilherme Teixeira

Oli Dickson Jefford 08 Mar 2025 1:44 PM

Pictured: Joao Fonseca fistpumps during a match at the 2025 Argentina Open.

Joao Fonseca celebrates during a match.

Joao Fonseca is the rising star that everyone is currently watching on the ATP Tour.

The Brazilian does not turn 19 until August and has just one Grand Slam main draw appearance under his belt, though he has been compared to Carlos Alcaraz – and has been praised by none other than Novak Djokovic.

Fonseca is a prodigious talent and has all the makings of a potential future superstar, and his journey has been overseen by long-time coach Guilherme Teixeira.

We look at Teixeira’s influence on Fonseca – and who else plays a key role in the 18-year-old’s burgeoning career.

Brief playing career

Teixeira himself is a former player, though his career did not quite take off in the way that Fonseca’s currently is.

The Brazilian, born in 1987, reached a career-high of world No 1,668 in doubles back in 2006 while still a teenager, though he did not continue his career for too much longer past that point.

He played one ATP Challenger match on home soil in 2005, losing in straight sets alongside Renato Melo.

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Coaching Fonseca

Following his brief career, Teixeira turned to coaching and first laid eyes on Fonseca when the rising star was just 12 years old, playing at the Rio de Janeiro Country Club.

Teixeira and Fonseca began working together shortly afterwards, and have remained together in the almost seven years since then.

“I say he’s like my second father, one of my best friends,” said Fonseca last May.

“I talk a lot with him not only related to tennis, but also things related to life. It’s very nice to have this relationship with your coach. It’s very easy to work with him.”

Teixeira has guided Fonseca to all of the most notable successes in his career, including the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals title and the 18-year-old’s first ATP Tour title in Buenos Aires in February 2025.

He was also the man behind Fonseca’s Grand Slam main draw debut at the 2025 Australian Open, coming through qualifying before defeating ninth seed Andrey Rublev in round one.

When not travelling, the pair are based at Yes Tennis, a famous club in Rio.

Who else is in Fonseca’s team?

Players rarely travel with just one coach in the modern era, and, much like the rest of the ATP and WTA, there is a solid team behind Fonseca.

Joining Teixeira in working with the Brazilian are physiotherapist Egídio Magalhaes Jr and physical trainer Emmanuel Jimenez.

Fonseca has also so far chosen not to work with major management groups such as IMG, with agent Gustavo Abreu working with the teen star.

Abreu is a long-time family friend of Fonseca’s and the two are thought to share a close relationship, with the former present when the 18-year-old won his first ATP title in Buenos Aires.