Teenager Joao Fonseca Claims Next Gen ATP Finals Title

18-year-old Joao Fonseca from Brazil defeated American Learner Tien to win the prestigious Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, making him the second-youngest champion in the event's history. Fonseca triumphed with a 2-4, 4-3 (10-8), 4-0, 4-2 victory, capping off an impressive run where he won all five of his matches. The teenager, who entered the tournament ranked 145th in the world, became the first Brazilian to claim the title since the event's inception.

Fonseca’s victory is notable for several reasons. At just 18, he is the youngest player to win the title since Jannik Sinner in 2019.  Sinner did this at the age of 17 years and 6 months.  Notably, Fonseca was the lowest-ranked player in this year’s competition but proved his mettle by defeating top talents like Tien. The match also marked a rematch of their group-stage encounter, where Fonseca once again came out on top, further cementing his position as a rising star in men’s tennis.

The Next Gen ATP Finals features a unique best-of-five set format, with players needing four games to win a set. Fonseca showed incredible resilience, particularly after dropping the first set to Tien. Following a tight second set, which Fonseca won in a tense tie-break, the Brazilian managed to dominate the remainder of the match and clinch the title in the fourth set.

Before the final, Fonseca spoke of the pressure he felt, noting how challenging it would be to face Tien, with whom he had previously competed in a junior final at the 2023 US Open. Reflecting on his journey, Fonseca shared that meeting world number one Sinner at last year’s ATP Finals and training with him helped inspire his decision to turn professional.