All Hail The Fons Melbourne Celebrates Joao Fonseca’s Stunning Australian Open Victory

The future looks bright for Brazilian tennis fans as 18-year-old João Fonseca celebrates a breakthrough at the Australian Open, securing his first major victory with a stunning 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over No. 9 seed Andrey Rublev.

Displaying impressive power and precision, Fonseca overwhelmed the former world No. 5 in just 2 hours and 23 minutes on Margaret Court Arena, sealing the match with a signature forehand winner on match point.

Not bad! Fonseca exclaimed on court. I truly enjoyed every moment on this incredible court. It’s my first time playing in such a huge stadium, my first Grand Slam main draw. I was just focused on having fun.

He also expressed gratitude to the supportive crowd, especially the Brazilian fans: I want to thank this amazing crowd. There are so many Brazilians here cheering for me. I enjoyed every moment.

Fonseca’s performance was marked by 51 winners and just 32 unforced errors, underscoring the promise he showed during his ATP debut in 2023. His triumph follows a successful 2024 season, which included a victory at the Next Gen ATP Finals, making him one of the most dangerous qualifiers in the men’s draw this year.

I stayed focused on my game, trying not to put pressure on myself playing against a top-10 player in such a big stadium, and I tried to rally the crowd to support me, Fonseca explained. I just had fun out there.

Despite his own mental improvements, Rublev was unable to match Fonseca’s pace, particularly as the teenager mounted a comeback from a break deficit in the third set and dominated the tiebreaker.

I make sure to focus all my intensity on the key points, Fonseca said. I perform better under pressure. I go for my shots and stay courageous. That made the difference today.

Ending his on-court interview with a quote from his idol Roger Federer, Fonseca humbly acknowledged that talent is not enough, and credited his coach, Guilherme Teixeira, and the team’s hard work for helping him achieve this milestone.

Tentatively set to break into the Top 100 after the tournament, Fonseca (currently ranked No. 112) will face Lorenzo Sonego in the second round—a familiar opponent who defeated 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka earlier in the day. The two previously met in Bucharest last spring, with Fonseca emerging victorious in two tightly contested sets.