'We Will Put João Fonseca's Name on the List’: Alcaraz praises teen after stunning Rublev in Grand Slam debut

It looks like the tennis world has another potential megastar: Brazil's João Fonseca. The 18-year-old burst onto the Grand Slam scene with a sensational victory over ninth seed Andrey Rublev.

It was an extraordinary performance by the teenager. He is now on the radar of many tennis players, including four-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz.

A Monumental Upset for João Fonseca

There is always a sense of anticipation going into the opening round of the Australian Open. You never know if athletes will hit the ground running or take a while to get into the swing of things.

This unpredictability often leaves the door open for big upsets, and that’s exactly what happened yesterday at the Margaret Court Arena. Fonseca shocked the world by beating Rublev in straight sets, 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-6(5)

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Fonseca entered the contest riding a strong wave of momentum. Earlier this month, he claimed victories at the Next Gen ATP Finals and an ATP Challenger Tour event in Canberra.

His win against Rublev marked his 14th consecutive victory and made him only the second teenager in history to defeat a top-10 opponent in their debut Grand Slam event. The first was Mario Ancic’s famous triumph over Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2002.

The Brazilian’s performance was nothing short of sensational, and it captured the attention of many in the tennis world, including Alcaraz, who praised the young star's remarkable debut on such a big stage.

Praise From Carlos Alcaraz

Fonseca’s victory over Rublev has set the stage for him to potentially become a top-10 player in the future. His performance was a major step towards this goal and has already drawn admiration from some of the sport’s biggest names.

Alcaraz who had advanced to the third round of the competition earlier. Spoke highly of Fonseca during his post-match interview, further fuelling the excitement about the Brazilian’s potential

Carlos Alcaraz in action 

"I saw it. I saw a little bit. I couldn’t watch the whole match. I saw a little bit at the match’s beginning and end," Alcaraz said. "What can I say about it? It’s just incredible. How he played his first Grand Slam match against his first top 10 is unbelievable. How he approached the contest, handled everything, the nerves, and the match in general have been fantastic. It’s something that I have to be careful of, let’s say... He’s going to be there.

"It is just the beginning of the year, just one win in a Grand Slam, but he will be there. We will put João Fonseca’s name on the list of the best players in the world soon."

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What’s Next for Fonseca

Following his outstanding performance, Fonseca now faces the challenge of maintaining his momentum as he prepares to take on Italian player Lorenzo Sonego. Sonego is coming off a hard-fought five-set battle against Stan Wawrinka and will provide a different kind of challenge.

This upcoming match will test Fonseca’s consistency, mental fortitude, and ability to perform under pressure.

If Fonseca can rise to the occasion once again, it will further solidify his reputation as one of the brightest rising stars in tennis.

With his fearless attitude and undeniable talent, the Brazilian teenager is poised to make a significant impact on the sport in the years to come.

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