Andy Roddick skeptical about Joao Fonseca as he thinks Brazilian fans’ reaction after his 1st ATP win is ‘strange’

Joao Fonseca lifted his first ATP title with a 6-4, 7-6(1) win over Francisco Cerundolo at the 2025 Argentina Open.

Andy Roddick skeptical about Joao Fonseca as he thinks Brazilian fans’ reaction after his 1st ATP win is ‘strange’

Joao Fonseca, Andy Roddick (Images via X)

Joao Fonseca is tipped to join Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to form another formidable Big 3. After lifting the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals title, Fonseca emerged triumphant at the 2025 Argentina Open, receiving praise from all corners.

Andy Roddick, however, was unimpressed. He knows that the youngster has a lot of potential to be one of the best players of the game but what amused him was the Brazilian fans’ reactions as Roddick just could not fathom all the hype around the 18-year-old.

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In Buenos Aires, Joao Fonseca won the first of a long series of titles. It’s strange to see that the whole of Brazil is already behind this kid who is among the 80 or 75 best players in the world. It’s not like he’s reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament or the final of a Masters 1000, it’s a 250. But I like the way he plays, there are a lot of things I like about him.

Andy Roddick said on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast

Fonseca made his Grand Slam main-draw debut in this year’s Australian Open. He progressed to the second round but he fell to Lorenzo Sonego in five sets.

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Following the Melbourne Slam, the Brazilian beat home favorite Francisco Cerundolo to add his first ATP title to his trophy cabinet. The youngster, however, couldn’t emulate this success at the Rio Open as he lost to eventual finalist Alexandre Muller in the first round.

Jon Wertheim compared Joao Fonseca to Carlos Alcaraz

Jon Wertheim likes watching the opponents when Joao Fonseca beats them. He recalled a match between Fonseca and Andrey Rublev, who was defeated by the rising star in the first round of this year’s Australian Open.

Joao Fonseca (2)
Joao Fonseca (Image via X)

Wertheim observed that Rublev had a look on his face as if he admitted that he was defeated not just by a teenager but by a future star. The tennis journalist then explained why he thinks Fonseca’s style is similar to that of four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz.

I think everybody who knows tennis watches his shot-making, watches his power, forehand, he’s got the Alcaraz thing, where there’s a nice little drop shot to level that power.

Jon Wertheim said on Served with Andy Roddick podcast

Fonseca will next participate at Indian Wells next month as he has been handed a wild card. It will be his second Masters 1000 tournament of his career, following last year’s Madrid Open where he lost to Cameron Norrie in the second round.