Tennis greats including Carlos Alcaraz, Boris Becker full of praise for rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca; Andrey Rublev; Jannik Sinner

Alcaraz, who is still only 21, himself, tuned into parts of Fonseca’s match and liked what he saw from the young gun.

“What can I say about it? Just incredible. I mean, the way he played his first grand slam match against his first top-10 [player] – it’s unbelievable,” Alcaraz said.

“The way he approached the match, the way he handled everything; the nerves, the match in general – it’s been fantastic … It is just the beginning of the year, just one win in [a] grand slam, but he’s going to be there. We’re going to put Joao Fonseca’s name on the list of the best players in the world really soon.”

Commentating for ESPN, Sinner’s Australian coach Darren Cahill shared the world No.1’s bold prediction for where Fonseca might be ranked by season’s end.

“I asked Jannik what ranking he thought Joao Fonseca would be in at the end of the year, and he said, ‘In the top 25,’” Cahill said.

That prediction is conservative compared to those made by six-time grand slam champion Boris Becker and Brad Gilbert, a former top-five player and coach of Andre Agassi.

Becker named Fonseca as his “dark horse” for the Australian Open title, while Gilbert tipped him to qualify for the ATP Finals, the exclusive end-of-year event for the eight best-performed men.

“Fonseca level for 18 let alone any age is simply off the charts,” Gilbert wrote on X.

“His easy power and composure [is impressive]. Right now his level is easily top 10. I said last month [he] would finish top 25. Now [I am] seeing year-end championships.”

Brazil’s last grand slam champion was Gustavo Kuerten, who won at Roland-Garros in 1997, 2000 and 2001. Kuerten and Federer are Fonseca’s idols.

“I grew up watching Roger. I think everyone wanted to play like him,” Fonseca said.

“I even tried, when I was younger, the one-handed [backhand]. I tried for, like, one week, and then I have something in my elbow, and then I forgot, I’m going to go two-handed again. Guga [Kuerten], of course … he’s not only [my] idol as a player, but as a person. He’s such a nice person.”

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