João Fonseca about losing in the Rio de Janeiro 1st round

Joo Fonseca, a teenage tennis sensation, faced a challenging start at the Rio Open, losing to France's Alexandre Muller. Despite the loss, Fonseca's talent and potential remain undeniable, making him the first man born in 2006 or later to win an ATP singles title.

Fonseca

João Fonseca, the teenage tennis sensation, faced a challenging start at the Rio Open. Just days after securing his first ATP title at the Argentina Open, Fonseca was defeated in the first round by France’s Alexandre Muller. The match ended with a score of 6-1, 7-6 (4) in favor of Muller.

Fonseca, who had been riding high on his recent victory, struggled with nerves and the pressure of playing in front of a packed crowd. He admitted to feeling overwhelmed by the moment, which affected his performance on the court. The young Brazilian made 34 unforced errors and appeared exhausted during the match.

Despite the loss, Fonseca’s talent and potential remain undeniable. He has quickly risen through the ranks, becoming the first man born in 2006 or later to win a top-level ATP singles title. His recent achievements, including reaching the quarterfinals of the Rio Open last year and winning the Next Gen ATP Finals, highlight his promising career.

Later Fonseca said: “I knew I would be nervous today. I knew I would have to face the moment, the packed crowd. And I couldn’t deal with that. I didn’t play my tennis. I wasn’t happy on court. I wasn’t myself on court”.

As Fonseca continues to develop his game, he will undoubtedly learn from this experience and come back stronger in future tournaments. The Rio fans, who were disappointed by his early exit, will be eagerly waiting to see him perform at his best next year.

Joao Fonseca in 2025

Joao Fonseca

14 - 3win/loss

Hard
9-1
I Hard
0-1
Clay
5-1
18 year old
LWWWWWLLWW
2025 Highlights

Ranked world no.68 (career-high), Joao played his last match on the 18th of February when he capitulated to world no.60 Alexandre Muller 6-1 7-6(4) in the 1st round in Rio De Janeiro (draw).

This year Fonseca has managed to achieve a compiled 14-3 win-loss record. The Brazilian clinched 2 titles in 2025 in the Canberra Challenger and Buenos Aires.

Fonseca
Rio De Janeiro
Fonseca's Record