Joao Fonseca played his last match this year, although it was only an exhibition with nothing at stake. The young Brazilian star who decided not to defend his title at the Next Gen ATP Finals scheduled in Saudi Arabia faced world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz in Miami in a clash that did not disappoint.
The South American tennis player had a large advantage in the super-tiebreak against the 22-year-old Spaniard, but the latter raised his level just when he needed it to get the victory. In any case, 2025 was a really important year for Joao, who was able to win his first two ATP titles in Buenos Aires and Basel.
As is physiological for a player of his age, the 19-year-old Brazilian has alternated truly impressive peaks with unexpected eliminations that have given rise to some criticism. He disappointed expectations especially at Roland Garros and the Wimbledon Championships, but his growth necessarily also goes through hard moments that serve to forge his character.
Fonseca has finished his 2025
Fonseca who has made his entry into the Top 25 of the ATP rankings is continuing to work hard together with his team and there are huge expectations on him next season, starting with the Australian Open, which will start on January 18 at Melbourne Park. He became famous all over the world in Melbourne this year, thanks to the formidable feat against the Russian veteran Andrey Rublev.
In a brief interview after his exhibition match with Alcaraz in the United States, Joao acknowledged that he enjoyed every moment on the court: "I have to admit that this player is quite talented, in fact he is really good. I'm really proud to have shared the field with a champion like Carlos and I congratulate him."
The Brazilian ace will have to be able to handle the pressure in 2026, as rivals know his game best and will study his weaknesses. We will see if Joao will fulfill the prophecy of Brad Gilbert, who predicted his entry into the Top 10 by the end of next year.
