Joao Fonseca has been waiting for his chance to play on the biggest stages of tennis, and what a way to arrive. The 18-year-old qualifier upset world No.9 Andrey Rublev in straight sets to claim his maiden Grand Slam win.

Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca began his Grand Slam career in spectacular fashion as the qualifier took down Russian ninth seed Andrey Rublev 7-6(1) 6-3 7-6(5) in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday.

The Brazilian teenager has long been touted as the next big thing in tennis and he proved his supporters right by winning the Next Gen ATP Finals in December - a tournament for top players under the age of 21, which has previously been won by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Carlos Alcaraz says Joao Fonseca will be on the "list of the best players in the world" after the teenager knocked out ninth seed Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open.

Brazilian tennis prodigy Joao Fonseca, one of the breakout stars of the 2025 Australian Open, has revealed who inspired him to take up the sport.

Ascendant Joao Fonseca, 18, of Brazil, beat No. 9 seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets in the first round at the Australian Open on Tuesday.

Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca stunned ninth seed Andrey Rublev in a major Australian Open shock on Tuesday ... who defeated Russia’s Rublev 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) on his Grand Slam debut. Roared on by Brazilian fans decked out in yellow, Fonseca ...

Fearless 18-year-old qualifier Joao Fonseca declared he wants "more and more" after beating ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets on his Grand Slam debut on Tuesday in a major Australian Open shock.

Leading American tennis commentator and former coach Brad Gilber wrote on X Fonseca’s hitting was “off the charts” — having taken the title from French powerhouse Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz. The popular Olly tennis X account posted Fonseca’s forehand is a “cheat code”.

Fonseca was part of the 2024 lineup alongside Fils and Luca Van Assche of France; Michelsen, eventual finalist Learner Tien and Nishesh Basavareddy of the U.S.; Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic and Shang Juncheng of China, who also goes by his Americanized name, Jerry Shang.

In his first-ever Grand Slam match, Fonseca defeated World No. 9 Andrey Rublev in straight sets: 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (5). The match was evenly contested, but Fonseca was dominant with his power and agility.

Rublev could do little to stem the flow of brilliance across the net, with Fonseca winning 7-6(1) 6-3 7-6(5). Read more at straitstimes.com.