Joao Fonseca Keeps his Promise, Shaves his Head after Winning the Basel Open

Joao Fonseca will face Carlos Alcaraz at the Miami Invitational exhibition event on Monday (December 8).

Joao Fonseca Keeps his Promise, Shaves his Head after Winning the Basel Open

Joao Fonseca (via X/Tennis Channel)

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Joao Fonseca has made good on his promises after being spotted training in a new look in Miami ahead of his exhibition clash against Carlos Alcaraz. The Brazilian teenager had made a huge promise at the Basel Open in October and fulfilled it by cutting his hair after winning the ATP 500 championship.

Fonseca was ranked World No.140 at the early stages of the season, but ended the year as No.24. He earned his first breakthrough at the Australian Open, where he announced himself by getting his maiden top 10 win after beating Andrey Rublev in straight sets. He then went on to win the Argentina Open the following month.

Fonseca then won the opening match in Indian Wells and the Miami Open. During the clay season, he had a couple of good results but the best of them all came at the French Open, where he reached the third round of the competition for the first time in his career. He also defeated former top 10 player Hubert Hurkacz in the first round.

The 19-year-old achieved another stunning result at the Wimbledon Championships, where he won two matches before crashing out in the third round. He also earned his first main draw win at the US Open before deciding to skip the entirety of the Asian swing as he prepared heavily for the indoor hard court campaign.

In his first Indoor tournament of the season, he captured his maiden ATP 500 title in Basel in October. During the trophy ceremony after beating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, he revealed that he had agreed with his team to shave his hair if he went on to win the title:

We made the promise that if we win one of these tournaments, we’re gonna shave my head. Soon I’m not gonna have hair.

On Friday (December 7), the World No.24 came out good with his promises as photos of him with shaved hair circulated on social media. He was in his training kit on the court, preparing for the Miami Invitational clash against Alcaraz.

He was expected to first face Alcaraz at the Laver Cup in September, but he managed to play just one match, with Team World captain Andre Agassi preferring the experienced Taylor Fritz to clash with the World No.1 rather than Fonseca. Meanwhile, with Fonseca being World No.24 he will be seeded at a major tournament for the first time at the 2026 Australian Open.

Joao Fonseca reflects on his practice session with Carlos Alcaraz this season

Joao Fonseca, Carlos Alcaraz, Amanda Anisimova, and Jessica Pegula will take part in the Miami Invitational exhibition event in Florida. Despite being just 19, Fonseca has been one of the most talked-about players on tour, which has now given him the chance to compete in a big exhibition tournament.

Joao Fonseca, Carlos Alcaraz
Joao Fonseca, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Everything Joao Fonseca, Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

Ahead of his clash against Alcaraz, Fonseca was asked about his relationship with the Spaniard during an interview with Sport TV via Puntodebreak. The Brazilian teenager reflected on his time practicing with the World No.1 earlier this year, and what it meant to receive a complimentary assessment from Alcaraz a few months ago:

He’s so important to our sport, and just being there, experiencing that moment with him meant a lot to me. Watching his routine, seeing how he prepares for matches, that was really valuable for my own growth. And receiving a compliment from him recently, like you [the interviewer] mentioned, that’s something really important that helps me keep going and keep believing.

Fonseca will be looking forward to learning more things from Alcaraz ahead of the 2026 season. After breaking into the top 30 this season, he will surely be aiming to climb into the top 10 and perhaps compete with the big stars in the men’s circuit.

Also Read: Casper Ruud Claims Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s Dominance on Tour “is a Bit Annoying”