One of the brightest and shiniest young stars in the world of tennis will be showcased today at The ATP 1000 Mutua Madrid Open. The wonder kid from Rio De Janeiro, Joao Fonseca, will square off with the American Tommy Paul. This is the first encounter between them on the ATP tour.
The Brazilian youngster faced off with the Danish qualifier, Moller, in the round of 128 at the Mutua Madrid Open. It took Fonseca one hour and 14 minutes to beat him, 6-3, 6-2. Joao did not face a single breakpoint in the match. He was able to convert four out of his own 13 breakpoints. Not too efficient. Both Fonseca’s first and second serves were working well. Joao hit 16 winners to his 26 unforced errors and he won 56% of the points in the match. With the win Fonseca now has a match record of ten wins and five losses in the 2025 season.
Fonseca is 18 years of age and currently ranked at the 65th position in the World. Joao has been mixing his time between the Challenger and ATP tour so far this season. He has played in two Challengers, Canberra and Phoenix, and won them both. Fonseca qualified for the Australian Open and got to the second round after beating Rublev in the round of 128. He lost to Sonego in the round of 64.
Joao went on to play at the ATP 250 Buenos Aires. Fonseca won the event after defeating Cerundolo in the final. That’s the first ever and only, so far, title on the tour for the young Fonseca. He lost in the first round at Rio De Janeiro. Fonseca lost to Draper in the second round at Indian Wells and reached the third round at the ATP 1000 Miami Masters. There is no question about whether the youngster has a bright future ahead of him or not. He has for sure. His big style of play will draw crowds and he has the talent to be top three player on the ATP tour in the future.
Paul is seeded at the 11th spot at the Mutua Madrid Open and therefore he had a bye in the round of 128. The 27 year old American out of North Carolina is ranked at the 12th position in the world of tennis. Tommy has won four titles in his career, but none this season. His match record for the year is 15 wins and six lost matches at this point of the season. Paul is good on the surface of clay which he played a lot growing up in North Carolina.
Paul started the season in Adelaide and got to the semis and went on to lose to Zverev in the QF at the Australian Open. Paul reached the semis in Dallas and the second round at Acapulco. He did well at Indian Wells where he got to the round of 16. Tommy had a third round exit at the ATP 1000 Miami Masters. His last entry before Madrid was in Houston where he reached the semis.
