Undefeated, Brazilian João Fonseca became the first South American champion in the history of the Next Gen Finals, a tournament with the biggest promises in world tennis.
This Sunday (22/12), João Fonseca (145th in the ATP rankings) beat the American Learner Tien (122nd in the rankings) in the final, in an upset, by 3 sets to 1 (2/4, 4/3, 4/0 and 4/2), equaling Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the only champions of the tournament who were just 18 years old.
The ATP Finals Next Gen brought together the eight best tennis players under the age of 21 this season. The competition took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
How much prize did João Fonseca win for the title? THE Sporting News shows the value.
MORE: the best VPNs to watch live sports in 2024
What was the award given to João Fonseca for the title of Next Gen Finals?
With five wins in five games, João Fonseca won 526 thousand dollars (R$ 3.2 million) at the Next Gen Finals. Each triumph was worth a cash prize. Thus, the Brazilian left the competition with the maximum possible value that was at stake.
The year 2024 was João Fonseca’s first as a professional. With 11 wins and seven losses on the ATP circuit, the Brazilian had already guaranteed $253,000 (1.5 million) during the season before the Next Gen Finals.
With this Sunday’s title, revenue for the year jumped to 779 thousand dollars (R$ 4.7 million).
Who is João Fonseca?
João Fonseca, born on August 21, 2006, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), is a promising Brazilian tennis player who has stood out on the international scene. His career gained notoriety in 2023, when he won the junior singles title at the US Open, becoming the first Brazilian to achieve this feat.
In December 2023, Fonseca was the first Brazilian youth world champion, having ended the season as number 1 in the junior rankings.
In early 2024, at the age of 17, Fonseca reached the semifinals of the Buenos Aires Challenger, demonstrating his potential in professional tournaments. In February, he participated in the Rio Open, where, after receiving a wildcard, he achieved his first victory at ATP level by defeating seventh seed Arthur Fils in straight sets. With this victory, he became the first player born in 2006 to win a match on the ATP Tour. He then overcame Cristian Garin, reaching the quarterfinals of the tournament.
MORE: Rafael Nadal: how was the tennis player’s farewell?
In March 2024, Fonseca reached his first Challenger final in Paraguay, consolidating his position among professionals. In April, he received a wildcard for the Masters 1000 in Madrid, where he beat American Alex Michelsen, recording his first victory at that level of competition.
In August 2024, he won his first Challenger title in Lexington, United States, at the age of 17, becoming the youngest Challenger champion of the season. This victory propelled him into the top 175 of the world rankings.
In late November 2024, Fonseca qualified for the Next Generation ATP Finals, demonstrating his rapid rise on the professional circuit.
João Fonseca is seen as a great promise in Brazilian tennis, with ambitions to reach the top of the world rankings, inspired by idols such as Gustavo Kuerten, known as Guga.
João Fonseca’s campaign at the ATP Finals Next Gen
- 18/12 – João Fonseca 3 x 2 Arthur Fils (France) – group stage
- 19/12 – João Fonseca 3 x 1 Learner Tien (United States) – group stage
- 20/12 – João Fonseca 3 x 2 Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic) – group stage
- 12/21 – João Fonseca 3 x 0 Luca Van Assche (France) – semi-final
- 22/12 – João Fonseca 3 x 1 Learner Tien (United States) – final
Main titles of João Fonseca’s career
- 2023: US Open Youth Singles Champion
- 2024: Lexington Challenger Champion (Youngest to win a tournament of this level in the season.)
- 2024: Next Gen ATP Finals Champion
ATP Finals Next Gen champions year by year
| Again | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | João Fonseca (Brazil) | Learner Tien (United States) |
| 2023 | Hamad Medjedovic (Serbia) | Arthur Fils (French) |
| 2022 | Brandon Nakashima (United States) | Jiří Lehečka (Czech Republic) |
| 2021 | Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) | Sebastian Korda (United States) |
| 2020 | Tournament not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 2019 | Jannik Sinner (Italy) | Alex de Minaur (Australia) |
| 2018 | Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece) | Alex de Minaur (Australia) |
| 2017 | Chung Hyeon (South Korea) | Andrey Rublev (Russia) |
