‘It’s a long and difficult dream’: João Fonseca on practice, patience and matching Sinner and Alcaraz

January 15, 2026

TL;DR

João Fonseca, 19, aims to become world No. 1 and win Grand Slam titles for Brazil.
He is described as a generational talent with potential to challenge top players like Alcaraz and Sinner.
Fonseca displayed maturity and realism about the long road ahead to achieve his goals.
Last year, he reached his first Grand Slam main draw at the Australian Open, defeating Andrey Rublev.
He won his first ATP title in Buenos Aires and his second in Basel in 2025.
Fonseca is compared to Gustavo Kuerten, a former Brazilian world No. 1.
He acknowledges the need to improve consistency, mentality, and courage to reach the top tier.
Currently dealing with a back injury, Fonseca aims to be fit for the Australian Open.
He recently played an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz, winning a set and pushing him in a tie-break.
Fonseca believes his friend Jakub Mensik is another young player with great potential.
He focuses on his routine and self-improvement, ignoring external expectations and comparisons.

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