Joao Fonseca follows Jannik Sinner as landmark Next Gen champion
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Brazil's Joao Fonseca en route to defeating Learner Tien of the US in the NextGen ATP final on Dec 22.
PHOTO: REUTERS
JEDDAH – Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca became the second-youngest champion of the Next Gen ATP Finals, when he defied his world No. 145 ranking to defeat 122nd-ranked Learner Tien in the decider on Dec 22.
The 18-year-old overcame his 19-year-old American opponent 2-4, 4-3 (10-8), 4-0, 4-2 at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to bag US$526,480 (S$713,400) in prize money.
He is the youngest champion at this tournament for players aged 20 and under since current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner claimed the title at the age of 18 five years ago.
“I was really nervous before the match,” Fonseca, the lowest-ranked player in the eight-man field, said before lifting the trophy with tennis legend Rafael Nadal watching on from the stands. “I knew it was going to be so difficult.
“I played a final against Learner in juniors at the 2023 US Open (which Fonseca also won) and I know the way he can play. He is such a nice guy and a great player, so I knew it was going to be difficult, mentally and physically. But I got through.”
Fifth seed Tien took comfort in his deep run, after becoming the first player in the competition’s history to defeat the three top seeds – Frenchman Arthur Fils, American Alex Michelsen and Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic.
Tien, who was born in California to Vietnamese parents, said: “I had an amazing year. I had a great week this week. It didn’t end the way I wanted but I am proud of myself. I am really happy with the strides I made this year.”
The left-hander, whose given name Learner was inspired by his mother’s maths teacher profession, added: “I will try and make sure this loss does not take me down a notch. I am looking forward to next year.”
Innovation has been at the heart of the tournament, which started in 2017, with singles matches decided through a best-of-five format and each set the first to four games.
This season’s edition of the hard-court event is the second to be held in Saudi Arabia and, apart from handing out a whopping US$2 million in prize money, it serves as a barometer to identify the sport’s next big stars.
Past winners of the event, which was previously held in Milan, Italy, also include Carlos Alcaraz (2021) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (2018).
Fonseca joins Sinner and Alcaraz as the only 18-year-olds to have won this tournament. He had also served as a training partner to the duo at the 2023 ATP Finals in Turin, where the Italian’s remarks changed his path.
In an earlier interview with the ATP Tour website, the teenager said he was already committed to the University of Virginia then, but Sinner told him: “You are too good for this, go to (the) pros.”
He won all five matches he played at the Red Sea venue, where he had also beaten Fils and Mensik in five-setters during the group stage, before defeating Frenchman Luca van Assche in straight sets in the semi-finals.
Having started the year at world No. 730 and also reached his maiden ATP quarter-final in his home city, Rio de Janeiro, this season, Fonseca will be aiming to make significant progress in 2025.
“If you told Joao at the start of the year that he did all the things he did this year, he would think it is amazing,” Fonseca said.
“It is amazing how I have improved physically and mentally. I have been very strong mentally, winning matches against top-50, top-20 players.
“I am proud of myself, but of course I want more. My dream is to become No. 1.” AFP, REUTERS
