Brazilian tennis player João Fonseca, just 18 years old, started the season by winning a place in the main draw of the Australian Open. The athlete will debut in the tournament on Saturday (11/01), at 9pm (Brasília time), against Russian Andrey Rublev, number nine in the world.
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Fonseca reached the main draw of the Grand Slam by passing the last preliminary stage of the tournament, beating Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante, this Thursday (09/01), by 2 sets to 0, partial 6/4 and 6/1. In the second phase, he had beaten Chak Lam Coleman Wong, from Hong Kong, by 2 sets to 0, partial 6/0 and 6/3. Before, he had beaten Argentine Federico Agustin Gomez by 2 sets to 0, partial 6/4 and 6/0.
When is João Fonseca’s next game?
The game between João Fonseca and Andrey Rublev, from Russia, is scheduled for Saturday (11/01), at 9pm (Brasília time). The schedule, however, may change.
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João Fonseca x Thiago Agustin Tirante: where to watch
- Date: January 11th, Saturday
- Time: 9pm (Brasília time)
- Where to watch: ESPN (closed TV) and Disney+ (streaming)
Brazilian games at the Australian Open
- 11/01 – 21h – João Fonseca (BRA) x Andrey Rublev (RUS)
- 11/01 – 21h – Thiago Monteiro (BRA) x Kei Nishikori (JAP)
- 11/01 – 21h – Thiago Wild (BRA) x Fabian Maroszan (HUN)
- 11/01 – 21h – Bia Haddad Maia (BRA) x Julia Riera (ARG)
How does Australian Open qualifying work?
Qualifying for the Australian Open 2025 will take place from January 6th to 9th, with the participation of 128 male players and 128 female players. The decisive matches of the last round will take place on Thursday, January 9, and will define the 16 men and 16 women who will guarantee their places in the tournament’s main draw.
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 beat Cristian Garin, reaching the quarterfinals of the tournament.
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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 in the world rankings.
At the end of November 2024, Fonseca qualified for the Next Generation ATP Finals, demonstrating his rapid rise in the professional circuit, becoming tournament champion.
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.
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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
