Brazilian 18-year-old rising star Joao Fonseca won the Next Gen ATP Finals title beating Learner Tien in the final. Fonseca earned 500000 US dollars in prize money for remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament.
“I was really nervous before the match. I knew it was going to be difficult. I played a final against Learner as a junior at the 2023 US Open. I know the way he can play. He is such nice guy and a great player, so I knew it was going to be difficult, mentally and physically, but I got my way through. Honestly, I don’t know how I did it in the second set. I was just trying to keep my game strong on serve. I was not playing my best at the beginning, but after the second set, I think the third set was another. I was much more aggressive going for the shots and he got a little bit more tight. In the fourth set I just did my best and got the win”, said Fonseca.
Fonseca started the season outside the top 700 and rose to number 145 in the ATP Ranking. The South American player has joined Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as the only 18-year-old players to win the Next Gen ATP Finals.
“It’s amazing how I improved physically and mentally, winning matches against top 50 and top 20 players. I am proud of myself but of course I want more. I was to enjoy this moment and I am thankful for this year. My dream is to become number one and became like Sinner and Alcaraz. Winning the Next Gen title shows that I am on the right path. I hope I can do the same or even better than what they have done, are doing and they are going to do. I look forward to play with them. I hope that I can compete in big matches at the Grand Slams. It’s where I want to go”.
Fonseca made his breakthrough last February when he beat Arthur Fils en route to his first quarter final at ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro and won his first Challenger Tour in Lexington in 2024. At the Next Gen Finals Fonseca beat Fils for the second time and Jakub Mensik in the round-robin group before saving one set point in the final against Tien to avoid two sets behind.
“I talk with my coach that I like to play big matches in difficult circumstances. I like playing the big guys. I like when I have a difficult match in a big stadium. I love the pressure. I belong on the stage of tennis where you have to be brave, where you have to go for the shot. I think I have improved a lot”, said Fonseca.