What Fonseca learned from Alcaraz, Sinner & more at the Nitto ATP Finals

Rio Open/Fotojump

Joao Fonseca will play one of the biggest matches of his young career Tuesday at the Rio Open presented by Claro against seventh seed Arthur Fils. But it will not be the first time the 17-year-old Brazilian has been on court with one of the best players in the world.

Last November, former junior World No. 1 Fonseca served as a hitting partner at the Nitto ATP Finals, where he trained with the likes of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.

“It's been a very special two weeks being a hitting partner here at the ATP Finals,” Fonseca said at the time. “It's amazing the experience that we got, being with the guys, the best eight in the world, and [getting to] know them very, very well. Seeing their routine, seeing their pre-match, their warmup. All of them are super nice. And the practice is just incredible. You can see the level that you dream of playing.”

Fonseca, who won last year’s US Open boys’ singles title, impressed those who watched him strike the ball with the very best on Tour. He was eager to take in all he could from the stars and their teams.

“I think [I learned] how they manage to every day try to learn, try to be better,” Fonseca said. “Every day, they are more intense than the day before, so they try to learn every day. And I think it's one of the things that it's just you against [yourself] every day. So that's super nice. And how they are so professional.”

^{Juan Carlos Ferrero speaks with Joao Fonseca during a break in training at the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals. Photo: ATP Tour.}
The Brazilian is part of the Next Gen Accelerator Programme, which provides chances to compete on the ATP Challenger Tour for the world’s best junior players. He receives eight main draw playing opportunities for ATP Challenger Tour 50 and 75 events.

“I think that the accelerator programme is very, very important for us, the young players to that transition of Futures and Challengers, to play the pro tour,” Fonseca said. “I think it's the most difficult part for a tennis player, which is that transition from 500 to 300, going to the Top 200, playing the qualies of the Grand Slams. So I think that's the most important.

“It's super nice from the ATP to give this opportunity to the best players in the juniors. And I think it's going to be nice, playing some Challengers, changing to pros, people are more experienced, and physically better, stronger. It's going to be nice. I think it's going to be a huge opportunity.”

For now, the No. 655 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings will be fully focussed on the task at hand — trying to earn his first tour-level win in Rio de Janeiro.