By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday March 25, 2025
Fans went absolutely bonkers for Brazil’s Joao Fonseca over the last week in Miami, which is proof of two things: first, the talent that the young phenom possesses (that’s easy to see); second, the power of the Brazilian fans to create something very special in our sport.
The Miami Open was quick to take notice, and they gave Fonseca center stage at the tournament, placing him in prime viewing spots where Americans might have typically been.
Alex de Minaur jokingly called the tournament the “Rio Open” after eliminating the 18-year-old old on Monday night in Rio, a somewhat controversial dash of humor that was misinterpreted by many and later cleared up.
Fonseca himself was surprised that Miami could feel so much like home.
“First impression here is just I really felt like I was in Brazil,” he said. “I mean, not only the crowd, but the organization treated me like I was in Brazil. So it was super cool. I really like the tournament. Probably one of my favorite tournaments now.
“I knew it was going to be crowded, but I didn't know it was going to be huge.”
Novak Djokovic has been around for two decades and seen - and fostered - the rise of what is largely considered to be the greatest era of men’s tennis players in history. The Grand Slam king is wise enough to know that Fonseca’s potential to be a massive value add to the sport is important.
“He's exciting for Brazil, for the world of tennis,” said Djokovic. “I was saying back in Australia, for our tennis ecosystem, our sport, it's super important to have a superstar, a future superstar, hopefully coming from Brazil. Such a big country, big market, important. Of course, Miami, I think everyone knew that he's going to have quite a support here.”
Djokovic went on to talk about the elements that make Fonseca a special talent.
“He's been the talk of the tour in the last several months,” Djokovic said. “Deservedly so. He's a very good tennis player. I mean, so young. Just incredible firepower from both ends of the baseline. Serve. He's a very complete player.
“Of course, what is impressive is the way he strikes the ball, but even more so how he handles the nerves on the court for someone that doesn't have experience at all playing at the highest level.”