Joao Fonseca will not soon forget his Next Gen ATP Finals victory, especially since Rafael Nadal was in attendance.
Nadal attended his first tennis event since his retirement, which came after the Davis Cup last month.
The Spanish legend concluded with 92 ATP Tour championships and is second in the men’s all-time Grand Slam list with 22.
Fonseca is only starting off, but he’s off to a great start with his Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah.
The Brazilian went unbeaten over the entire week, becoming the competition’s second-youngest Next Gen winner.
Rafael Nadal messages Next Gen ATP Finals winner Joao Fonseca
Fonseca, 18, defeated American Learner Tien 2-4, 4-3(8), 4-0, 4-2 in the final, earning a tournament record $526,480.
And he has now received the praise of great figure Rafael Nadal, who posted a snapshot of the two at King Abdullah Sports City on his Instagram story with the caption “Congratulations Joao”.
Following his victory, the champion gave a special thanks to the Spaniard, who was asked on court how it feels to see his name alongside past champions Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Brandon Nakashima, and Hamad Medjedovic.
“It’s just amazing,” he said. “I aspire to achieve similar success as individuals who have achieved remarkable results.
“Obviously I want to thank Rafa for being here, he’s such a legend of this sport, so it’s very meaningful for us players to be in those big stadiums with those guys watching.”
Joao Fonseca equals Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz record after his Next Gen ATP Finals win
It has been a remarkable rise from Fonseca in a short period of time, having started the 2024 season outside the ATP Tour top 700.
With the win, the Brazilian becomes the third youngster to achieve Next Gen success since its establishment in 2017.
He has followed in Sinner and Alcaraz’s footsteps in this regard, and Fonseca is now anxious to duplicate their ATP Tour success in the coming years.
“It is a good pressure,” he stated, as reported on the ATP Tour website. “Winning Next Gen proves that I am on the right track.
“I hope I can match, if not outperform, what they have done, are doing, and will do. I’m looking forward to playing with them and competing in important matches at Grand Slams. “That is where I want to go.”
