PARIS — The rise of teenage tennis star Joao Fonseca – who pulled off a stunning win over Serbian great Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros – has fueled a tennis fever among the youth in his home country, Brazil.
In recent years, fans from the football-mad nation have brought their boisterous energy to typically restrained tennis matches as they followed the 19-year-old’s ascent to number 30 in the world.
In Brazil, children are flocking to tennis academies and youth tournaments to follow in his footsteps.
“We have no spots available. There is a waiting list,” tennis coach Juninho Nascimento told AFP at his academy in Sao Bernardo do Campo, 20 kilometres from Sao Paulo.
One of his students, 13-year-old Henry Takahashi, said he trains every day, with Fonseca serving as his “inspiration”.
“I like how (Fonseca) carries himself on the court, his shots… everything,” Takahashi said shyly.
With his aggressive playing style, a heavy forehand, and plenty of charisma, Rio de Janeiro native Fonseca has emerged as the great hope of South American tennis.
In the process, he has put Brazil back on the map among the men’s tennis elite. He blasted Djokovic out of Roland Garros in an almost five-hour match.
In 2025 – when he won his first titles on the ATP Tour in Buenos Aires and Basle – Fonseca became just the fifth Brazilian in history to break into the top 25 of the world rankings.
His highest ranking has been 24th.
This places him in an exclusive club alongside Gustavo Kuerten – the country’s only world No 1 – Thomaz Bellucci, Fernando Meligeni, and Thomaz Koch.
It had been a long time coming for Brazil: Kuerten retired in 2008, Meligeni in 2003, and Koch in 1985.
