Novak Djokovic reveals what he told Joao Fonseca after Brazilian’s stunning Australian Open win

Ewan West
Novak Djokovic and Joao Fonseca
Novak Djokovic and Joao Fonseca

Novak Djokovic has lauded Joao Fonseca after his stunning Australian Open victory over Andrey Rublev as he divulged that he sees himself in the Brazilian prodigy.

Fonseca delivered a sensational performance to see off world No 9 Rublev 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-6(5) in the opening round of the Australian Open on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old was playing his maiden Grand Slam main draw match, having won his three qualifying contests without dropping a set. He is just the second teenager to beat a top 10 player in their first major match since the ATP Rankings were introduced in 1973.

The world No 112 is now on a 14-match winning streak — a run that includes him winning the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah in December and a Challenger event in Canberra earlier this month. Fonseca will take on world No 55 Lorenzo Sonego in the second round at Melbourne Park.

After his second round victory against Jaime Faria, Djokovic revealed he has congratulated Fonseca on his breakthrough win and the progress he has made in the last year.

“I congratulated him not only on the win last night that I’ve seen, the last set I’ve seen, but also everything he has been doing the last six to 12 months,” the 37-year-old Serbian explained.

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“I’ve been following his rise, and I just love how he plays the big points. Courageous, very clean hitter, all-around player.

“Brazil is a huge country. It’s super important for our sport to have a very good player coming from Brazil.

“I think they haven’t had a player maybe of this calibre since Guga Kuerten. It’s exciting times for Brazil, but also for the whole tennis world ’cause such a young player and person to be able to play so good on a big stage is impressive.

“I’ve been a fan of his game. I think in one of my interviews for ATP I was saying I see some of my game there in his game, particularly when I was his age when you’re kind of carelessly going for the shots, just showing what you’re capable of.

“He’s got the goods. He showed that last night on a big stage to go very far. The future is bright for him, no doubt, if he keeps going this way.”

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