Joao Fonseca won his first match at the Australian Open against Andrey Rublev Joao Fonseca won his first match at the Australian Open against Andrey Rublev

Novak Djokovic believes Joao Fonseca has what it takes to enjoy a successful tennis career following his stunning display against Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open. (More Tennis News)

Fonseca marked his grand slam debut with an impressive 7-6 (6-1) 6-3 7-6 (7-5) over world number nine Rublev at Melbourne Park on Tuesday. 

The Brazilian became only the second teenager to defeat an ATP top-10 opponent in their maiden grand slam match, after Mario Ancic beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2002.

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Fonseca is also the first teenager to defeat an ATP top-10 opponent in straight sets at a grand slam since Rublev did so himself against Grigor Dimitrov at the US Open in 2017. 

His reward for his memorable triumph is a second-round clash with Lorenzo Sonego, a player he has already beaten on clay, in Bucharest back in April last year. 

Should he emerge victorious against Sonego, Fonseca will be the youngest South American to reach the men’s singles third round at the Australian Open in the Open Era.

Including qualifying and Challenger events, Fonseca has now won his past 14 consecutive matches, but his emergence into the spotlight has not come as a surprise to Djokovic. 

"I've been following his rise, and I just love how he plays the big points. Courageous, very clean hitter, all-around player. Brazil is a huge country," Djokovic said. 

"It is very important for our sport to have a very good player coming from Brazil. I think they haven't had a player maybe of that calibre since Guga Kuerten.

"It's exciting times for Brazil, but also for the whole tennis world because such a young player and person to be able to play so good on a big stage is impressive.

"I've been a fan of his game. I've been watching him also last year. I think in one of my interviews for ATP I was saying I see some of my game there in his game, particularly when I was his age when you're kind of carelessly going for the shots, just showing what you're capable of.

“The final was really intense; the Chinese were breathing down our necks throughout the game and made it really difficult for us to create a clear goal scoring chance,” Harmanpreet said in a Hockey India release.

On Tuesday, deep inside Chinese Mongolia, the Harmanpreet Singh-led Men in Blue did just about enough to beat a spirited Chinese side. The occasion: the final of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024.

"He's got the goods definitely. He showed that last night on a big stage to go very far. The future is bright for him, no doubt, if he keeps going this way."

2 - Joao Fonseca has become only the second teenager since 1973 to defeat an ATP top 10 opponent in their maiden Grand Slam main draw match, after Mario Ancic (Roger Federer, Wimbledon 2002). Leap.#AO2025 | @AustralianOpen @atptour @ATPMediaInfo pic.twitter.com/ddxMRXXNSY

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 14, 2025

Fonseca could become the second-youngest South American to reach the men’s singles third round at a grand slam on hard court after Jaime Yzaga (US Open 1985).

Coco Gauff, who beat Jodie Burrage in her second round match on Wednesday, also echoed the comments made by Djokovic when asked about Fonseca. 

"We were just talking about him upstairs. I first knew of Fonseca two years ago when I won the US Open. He won the Junior US Open. I took a picture of him," Gauff said.

"That's when I was like, Who is this kid? He won the Junior US Open at 16. Has to be good.

"I started following his career from there, his challengers, obviously still leading up to that, and then Next Gen. I've been on the Fonseca train early. I wasn't surprised by the result.

"I didn't watch it because I think it was later, like, in the evening. I wasn't surprised. I kind of called it. I said that he was going to beat Rublev.

"I didn't think it was going to be straight sets. I thought it was going to be four. Yeah, he's good. I don't know him at all personally. I've just been a fan of his for at least a year.

"It's great to see him on the biggest stage performing well. Hopefullygvg777, he'll stay in his lane, not listen to the hype and enjoy it. He seems like a great personality."