The Australian Open presents a perfect opportunity for young stars to stake a claim among the world’s best. Looks like the Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca has accepted the opportunity with both hands. Earlier today, he caused the upset of the tournament, knocking out the 9th seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (5), extending his winning streak to 14 matches. “Not bad, huh,” an emotional Fonseca said in his on-court interview. Soon after his historic win, Fonseca’s ties with Roger Federer went viral, with the Swiss maestro making a smart move a few years back.

In 2023, Fonseca, who has an explosive forehand and all-court game, won the US Open junior title and finished the year as the junior Number 1, becoming the first player from Brazil to top the junior rankings. The 18-year-old Brazilian, a rising star in his home country, followed in the footsteps of Grand Slam champions Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner by winning the ATP NextGen Finals in December. This impressive performance was followed by a Challenger title in Canberra at the start of the year, further solidifying his rapid ascent. He then navigated three rounds of qualifying at the Australian Open, showcasing his growing maturity and resilience on the big stage.

Interestingly, On was on a spree of signing young and promising stars waiting to make it big on the tour. With Shelton already in their ranks, Fonseca was added soon after. The then-16-year-old, signed a sponsorship deal with Roger Federer-backed On. Further, Fonseca even considers Federer to be his idol. Talking about the Swiss maestro, he once said,

“Federer has been my idol since I was a child. I always enjoyed watching his matches, his classic, easy, elegant style. He is a reference. I would like to know his stories, to know what happens in difficult moments. What he felt about tennis when he was my age. He’s very talented, but a lot of people say he wasn’t very dedicated in his youth. I would like to hear that from him, because he could contribute and teach me a lot of things. If I had a conversation with him, I would try to get the most out of it.”

However, Fonseca had further chances to ramp up his ties with Federer. Following his rise, Fonseca was offered a chance to join Federer’s sports management agency, TEAM8, which he declined. Federer will be pleased to hear that Fonseca considers the prospect of being represented by Team8 ‘crazy’. “It would be crazy, but we are waiting for now,” Fonseca admitted. Additionally, Fonseca also refused to join the 2024 Laver Cup as a reserve and sparring partner for Team World.

Further, it was the Brazilian star’s maiden Grand Slam main-draw appearance, and it turned out to be a memorable one for him. After reaching the second round, he made a candid confession about his expectations from the tournament.

Joao Fonseca highlights his first goal at the Australian Open

The Brazilian star was at his very best against a tough opponent in the form of Rublev. He dominated the match right from the word go to win the biggest match of his career by far. Fonseca entered the Australian Open as a qualifier and is yet to lose a set here. Following his big win over Rublev, Fonseca talked about his journey in the tournament.

He said, “I think when I arrived here, my first goal was to qualify for the main draw. Of course, my expectations are bigger now. I want more and more. Of course, I’m very happy with the way that I played today with the win, but I already think about the next match. It’s going to be a good one against a very great player. Yeah, want more and more. I think that’s the mentality of the champion. So I’m just trying to think about the next match.”

The Brazilian star will face Lorenzo Sonego for a place in the Australian Open third round. Can Fonseca continue his giant-killing run in the tournament? Let us know your views in the comments below.