Brazilian Teen João Fonseca Advances at Indian Wells in Thrilling Debut

The 18-year-old rising star overcame windy conditions and a third-set deficit to defeat Jacob Fearnley and secure a second-round spot.

João Fonseca, an 18-year-old Brazilian tennis player, defeated Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 in his Indian Wells debut, rallying from a third-set deficit to win the last five games.
Fonseca, who entered the tournament as a wild card, credited his focus and composure for his victory in challenging windy conditions on the center court of the ATP 1000 event.
The teenager has been making waves on the ATP Tour, with notable achievements including a victory over Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open and his first ATP title in Buenos Aires last month.
Fonseca’s rise has drawn comparisons to Carlos Alcaraz, with praise from top players like Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev for his talent, clean hitting, and fearless play under pressure.
Next, Fonseca will face 13th-seeded Jack Draper in the second round, continuing what has already been a breakout year for the young Brazilian.