Boris Becker’s bold prediction: Joao Fonseca to surprise at the Australian Open - "Just a terrific player"

Boris Becker made Joao Fonseca his bold prediction for the Australian Open. The 6-time Grand Slam champion named the Brazilian teenager as the surprise for the first major of the year.

The 18-year-old from Brazil enters the tournament on a 13-match winning streak, having won five matches at the Next Gen ATP Finals, five more at the Challenger in Canberra last week, and three matches in the qualifiers this week to secure his spot in the main draw. Fonseca only dropped an average of four games per match in the qualifying rounds.

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Fonseca is adapting quickly to the Tour after finishing 2024 as the junior world No. 1. The Brazilian triumphed at the Next Gen ATP Finals undefeated, beating players like Arthur Fils (No. 20) and Jakub Mensik (No. 48). Fonseca is now preparing for his Grand Slam main draw debut, facing none other than Andrey Rublev (No. 9).

The former world No. 1 Boris Becker recently commented on his bold prediction for the Australian Open on the podcast he hosts with Andre Petkovic. The German had no doubt in picking the rising young star as a possible revelation of the tournament.

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"May I tell you my dark horse for the men’s side? He made it through the qualifiers and I’ve been a great admirer of his craft ever since I got to know him during a training session in Turin a year and a half ago. Joao Fonseca,” said Boris Becker. “I think he is fantastic. The way he plays and his statements, just a terrific player."

The former German tennis player believes Rublev will have to bring his best game to defeat the 18-year-old: “The Russian will have to play his best tennis to beat this ambitious young Brazilian. But my dark horse, I’m sticking with it, is Fonseca,” Becker added.

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