Lighting up Miami like Lionel Messi, 18-year-old Joao Fonseca stole the show at the ATP 1000 event this fortnight in Florida.
The Brazilian toppled fellow teen phenom Learner Tien and No.14 seed Ugo Humbert, bringing unmatched energy to both the court and the packed stands at his Miami Open matches.
PODCAST: Listen to this week's episode of The Tennis
His exhilarating run came to an end in the third round, where he pushed world No.11 Alex de Minaur in a tight three-set battle with an unforgettable evening atmosphere – another glimpse into what is shaping as a bright future.
On this week’s episode of The Tennis, data analyst Simon Rea detailed the exciting aspects of Fonseca’s game and the intangible factors that have tennis fans enthralled.
“You can talk about the numbers and break down the game how? you like, but [he has] that ability to walk towards the pressure and the discomfort, that's so often the differentiator between the elite, the real champions of our sport, and the rest of us,” Rea said.
LOCKED IN: Australian Open 2026 dates announced
“I think that that's the first thing that I see when I look at this guy – that want to have the spotlight on him and to back his big game, back his weapons against anyone down the other end.”
Such confidence has allowed Fonseca to impose his weapons on opponents.
Though his ace count may not rank among the tour’s highest, the teenager is fearless on his serve and effective on both first and second deliveries.
“The top 10 players in the world average high 150s (km per hour) on second serve, and it’s normally the stuff that you want to make sure you get right,” Rea explained.
“This guy hits his second serve at 170km/h as an 18-year-old.”
Rea says Fonseca’s forehand exceeds the average markers set by the world’s top 10, in terms of both average speed (132km/h, compared to the top-10 average of 127) and spin (3050 revolutions per minute, 250rpms higher than the top-10 average).
“That means he’s not just getting you for speed on the forehand side he’s getting you for spin as well,” Rea observed. “Normally when you add one, you've got to take off a bit on the other. This guy's the whole package.”
Given he already possesses such weaponry, the fact Fonseca can improve other areas of his game means the sky could be the limit.
According to former world No.35 Nicole Pratt, the next step for the Brazilian would be to translate these runs into the second week of big events.
READ MORE: Fonseca fires past Rublev in stunning Slam debut
“We’ve got to remember the Indian Wells’, Miami and the Slams, they’re two-week events - it takes a toll on the body,” Pratt said on the same episode of The Tennis.
“It’s exciting that he still has that growth there physically.”
Listen to the latest episode of The Tennis with Xavier, Brie, and our panel of experts. New episode released each Thursday, with daily episodes throughout the Australian Open main draw. Subscribe today and take The Tennis with you wherever you go!