ATP Tour

Fonseca races through Wimbledon debut: Key is to 'Work, believe, dream'

Joao Fonseca continued his habit of making an immediate impact at the majors with a classy debut showing Monday at Wimbledon.

The #NextGenATP Brazilian raced past home favourite Jacob Fearnley 6-4, 6-1, 7-6(5) to become the first 18-year-old to reach the second round at the grass major since Carlos Alcaraz in 2021. Competing in the sort of stifling heat he would be used to at home in Rio de Janeiro, Fonseca produced a powerful display throughout and kept his cool in his only real moment of peril, when set point down at 5-6, 30/40 in the third set.

“At the beginning of the match both of us were very nervous, just making our serves and there were no rallies,” reflected Fonseca, when asked about his first impressions of stepping out to compete on the All England Club’s Court 1. “It’s just a beautiful court. It’s unbelievable, it’s a dream. I’m just very happy to have had this opportunity.”

“I’ve been working a lot and believing I can play good tennis. I think the key is [to] work, believe, and dream.”

Wise words from the young star 🌟@Wimbledon | #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/JGZzRVK4hp

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 30, 2025

Prior to January’s Australian Open, Fonseca had not played a main-draw match at a Grand Slam tournament. Yet the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion stunned then-Top 10 star Andrey Rublev in Melbourne to announce himself on the world stage. After lifting his maiden ATP Tour title in February in Buenos Aires, the Brazilian then reached the third round of a major for the first time at Roland Garros.

Even with those recent standout performances in mind, the way Fonseca dismantled Fearnley at Wimbledon was impressive. Although he played qualifying for the event last year, the teenager had contested only four tour-level matches on grass prior to Monday’s clash. He nonetheless had no trouble bringing his clean-hitting game to his least-familiar surface against Fearnley.

Joao Fonseca, It All Adds Up:

Fonseca produced red-hot streaks to claim each of the first and third sets. He won nine straight points from 4-4, 0/40 to win the opener, before reeling off five straight points from 2/5 in the third-set tie-break to complete his win.

The Brazilian’s serve was the foundation of his two-hour, one-minute victory. He won 84 per cent (54/64) of points behind his first delivery, while his 31 winners included 11 aces.

With his victory, Fonseca rose three spots to No. 51 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He now leads Fearnley 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, having also prevailed in their first-round clash in Indian Wells in March.

“It means a lot. It’s super special for me,” said Fonseca in his on-court interview. “It’s my favourite Grand Slam since my childhood. I’ve been watching all the matches, so it’s just a pleasure being here. I’m sorry for winning against a British guy, but thanks a lot for the support here. Thanks for respecting the tennis today. Jacob is a great friend, a great player and I’m looking forward to my next meetings against him.”