Joao Fonseca is the talk of tennis after his incredible win against Andrey Rublev on his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open – and it has edged him towards one of the first big rankings targets of his career.

Fonseca’s name has been circulating in tennis for many years, with his impressive performances on the junior circuit singling out the Brazilian as a player to watch. His big Grand Slam moment has arrived after a brilliant 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory over Rublev. The win has propelled the teenager into the top 100 of the live rankings, a remarkable achievement for an 18-year-old on the rise.

The Strategic Decisions Behind Fonseca’s Success

Fonseca began the Australian Open ranked No. 112, an impressive position for a young man who had won just 11 matches on the ATP Tour. He wanted to test himself against the best players in the world, so he fully embraced the challenges of the professional circuit.

Following his victory against Rublev, Fonseca’s live ranking has jumped to No. 98, marking his first time breaking into the top 100. With his next match against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, Fonseca can elevate his ranking even further, potentially climbing into the mid-80s. Should he advance to the second week of the Australian Open, the teenager could find himself on the cusp of the top 50, a stunning accomplishment at this career stage.

A Breakthrough Year for Fonseca in 2025

Though still in the early days of his career, Fonseca is already closing in on significant milestones. He had amassed $847,106 in career prize money prior to the Australian Open, and a few more wins in Melbourne could see him surpass the $1 million mark—a remarkable achievement for an 18-year-old.

Fonseca’s rapid ascent has drawn comparisons to the game’s greats, with some optimists speculating that he could form part of a new ‘Big 3’ alongside Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. His meteoric rise has been years in the making, as he was ranked 730th worldwide at the start of 2024. By year’s end, Fonseca had surged into the top 150, fueled by standout performances, including quarter-final runs at the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro and the ATP 250 in Bucharest.

The teenager truly cemented his status as a star by winning the Next Gen ATP Finals in December 2024. This event, featuring the best male players aged 21 and under, has become a springboard for future stars. Current world number one Jannik Sinner, who won the tournament in 2019, is the only player to have captured the title at a younger age than Fonseca.

Interestingly, Sinner played a pivotal role in Fonseca’s decision to turn professional. As Sinner’s hitting partner at the 2023 ATP Finals, Fonseca found inspiration to take the leap into professional tennis.

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A Historic Feat Against Rublev

Fonseca’s win over the Russian tennis star was a testament to his skill and potential. Taking charge with his powerful forehand, he fired 51 winners to Rublev’s 33, showcasing his ability to dominate against an established top-10 opponent. This victory placed him in elite company, as the Brazilian tennis star was the only teenager since 1973 to beat a top-10 player on his Grand Slam debut. The last player to achieve this feat was Mario Ancic, who defeated Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2002.

Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran – USA TODAY Sports