Young Brazilian João Fonseca started the first Grand Slam of his career on the right foot. The 18-year-old beat Russian Andrey Rublev, number 9 in the world, in the first round of the tournament, this Tuesday morning (14/01).
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The game was 3 sets to 0 for Fonseca, partial 7(7)/6(1), 6/3 and 7(7)/6(5). In the second round of the Australian Open, João Fonseca will face the Italian Lorenzo Sonego, number 55 in the world in the ATP rankings. The game does not yet have a confirmed date and time. The tendency is for the match to be on Thursday (16/01).
Sonego beat Stan Wawrinka in the first phase of the tournament to qualify to face Fonseca. Sonego won by 3 sets to 1, partial 6/4, 5/7, 7/5 and 7/5.
Who is Lorenzo Sonego?
Lorenzo Sonego was born on May 11, 1995, in Turin, Italy. In addition to being a professional tennis player, the athlete has released three songs.
The athlete has a record of 145 wins and 157 losses in his career, winning four titles. The player reached 21st place in the ATP rankings in October 2021. He is currently 55th.
The four singles titles were in 2019, at the ATP 250 in Antalya, Turkey, beating Miomir Kecmanović in the final. The second trophy was in April 2021, winning the Sardinian Open, an ATP 250, against Laslo Đere.
The third trophy was in September 2022, at the Mossele Open, in France, beating Alexander Bublik. The last achievement was in August 2024, beating Alex Michelsen at the Winston-Salem Open, another ATP 250.
Before the ATP titles, the player won Challengers tournaments six times. The athlete won in September 2015, October 2015, twice in October 2017, September 2018 and September 2019.
When is João Fonseca’s next game?
The game between João Fonseca and Lorenzo Sonego, from Italy, does not yet have a defined date and time. The tendency is for the game to be on Thursday (16/01).
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João Fonseca x Lorenzo Sonego: where to watch
- Date: date to be defined
- Time: time to be defined
- Where to watch: ESPN (closed TV) and Disney+ (streaming)
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.
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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 the ambition of reaching 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
