All may be fair in love and war, but tennis fans might disagree. After Joao Fonseca’s exit from the Australian Open against Lorenzo Sonego, many were bitterly disappointed to see the rising star leave so soon, especially after he defeated ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets. Meanwhile, Learner Tien, who faced Fonseca in the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals, delivered an impressive five-set victory over fifth seed and three-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev, propelling him to the next round. However, there seems to be contrasting support for these two young talents that has left fans perplexed.

The Australian Open ignites fierce rivalries among top players and serves as a launchpad for newcomers eager to showcase their skills. It’s a significant moment for many young athletes. However, what truly elevates a player is the support they receive from fans, both in the stands and online. One fan pointed out the irony of Tien’s situation compared to Fonseca’s by sharing screenshots of their Instagram follower counts. The difference was striking: Learner Tien has 15.1K followers, while Joao Fonseca boasts a whopping 670K. Seeing this, the fan remarked, “Life is just unfair sometimes.”

Joao’s journey has been impressive. He made his ATP Tour debut as a 16-year-old wild card at the 2023 Rio de Janeiro Open and quickly gained recognition. By August 2024, he secured his first ATP Challenger Tour trophy in Lexington and reached his second ATP Tour quarter-final in Bucharest that April. He also qualified for and won the Next Gen ATP Finals against Learner Tien last season. Notably, he defeated Andrey Rublev in three sets in the ongoing Australian Open, becoming the first teenager since Rublev to beat a top 10 player in the first round of a Grand Slam.

On the other hand, Tien is also a talent to watch out for. In 2024, he won three Challenger titles before turning 19, becoming only the fourth American to achieve this feat. His marathon match against Medvedev on Margaret Court Arena ended with Tien winning a fifth-set super tie-break, knocking out the three-time Australian Open finalist.

However, the disparity in the follower counts of these two players is surprising. While there may not be a clear answer to it, it seems Fonseca is doing well on the sponsorship side too!

Joan Fonseca bags sponsorship deal after rise at the Australian Open

Joao Fonseca’s journey at the Australian Open began with an impressive qualifying run, which propelled him to a career-high ranking of 112 on January 13th. He dominated his matches, defeating Federico Agustin Gomez (6-4, 6-0), Coleman Wong (6-0, 6-3), and Thiago Agustin Tirante (6-4, 6-1) in straight sets. Fonseca entered the first round against ninth seed Andrey Rublev as an underdog but stunned everyone by winning in three sets: 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 7-6 (7-5). Although his run at AO stopped in R2, things are still looking up for him outside the court.

Fonseca’s stunning upset against Rublev has solidified Fonseca’s status as a rising star in tennis. Now, with his sights set higher than ever, Brazil’s No. 3 player is hungry for more success. Craig Shapiro, host of the Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast, noted on X that: “The agent race to sign Fonseca is on and ongoing. All the big hitters are vying for the contract. The kid is loaded, from a prominent family, already has a big appearance/sponsorship deal with the Brazilian Investment Management company XP, and appears to be biding his time.”

Interestingly, On has been actively pursuing young tennis stars. They were quick to add Fonseca to their roster when he was just 16 years old. Additionally, this sponsorship deal with the Roger Federer-backed brand further strengthens Fonseca’s connection to his idol. While he may be out of the Australian Open for now, he is all set to dominate the sport in the coming years and is already sponsored by brands like On Running. There’s no doubt he’s on the right path!