Fonseca Encouraged After Close Battle with Sinner: “The Level is There”
The Brazilian had three set points in the opening set.
March 11, 2026
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Joao Fonseca was competing in the fourth round at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time. By Redacción ATP
Joao Fonseca pushed world No. 2 Jannik Sinner to the brink Tuesday at the BNP Paribas Open, falling in a thrilling two-set match but leaving the court confident in his game. Sinner ultimately prevailed 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in a contest that lived up to the hype surrounding the rising stars.
Since bursting onto the scene with a breakthrough win in Rio de Janeiro in 2024, Fonseca has consistently raised questions about his potential to challenge the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. He closed out 2024 by winning the Next Gen ATP Finals title, becoming only the third 18-year-old to lift the trophy, joining Alcaraz and Sinner in that exclusive club. The momentum continued into 2025 with tour-level trophies in Buenos Aires and Basel, solidifying his status as a player to watch.
At Indian Wells, Fonseca finally had the opportunity to test himself against Sinner. While the Italian emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle, the 19-year-old was encouraged by how closely he competed with the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings.
“I can play against them. I can do some great matches. But there are always the little things, the little important things that you require to work every day,” Fonseca said. “Those little details are just super important, like when he played the important points, how he deals with it. So of course I still need a lot of experience, but I believe the level is still there. Of course, I can play against them. [There are] many more things to improve, but I feel happy the way that I played, since I felt the level was pretty close today.”
Fonseca pushed Sinner throughout the match, earning three set points in the first-set tiebreak at 6/3, but was unable to convert. He also held a 4/3 lead in the second-set tiebreak before Sinner rallied to close out the match.
Following the match, Fonseca praised Sinner’s ability to elevate his game in crucial moments.
“He puts a lot of pressure on you. He won a lot of points with his serve, a lot of important points. I would say he puts a lot of pressure on his opponent when he feels the tension. When he’s tense, he puts a lot of pressure on you. No matter the moment, he hits the ball very hard,” Fonseca explained.
“You can feel the weight of the ball. That’s something I noticed, that intensity in his game. In every game he gives 100%, you always have to be prepared and focused. That’s the main difference. I think the intensity and the way he plays the important points.”
Fonseca, who has yet to face Alcaraz, enjoyed a stellar week at Indian Wells, reaching the fourth round of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time in his career. The No. 35 player in the PIF ATP Rankings defeated Tommy Paul in straight sets, saved two match points against Karen Khachanov, and cruised past Raphael Collignon in his tournament debut.
“As a tennis player, I can say that when we lose, sometimes we feel sad or disappointed, trying to understand what we did well and what we did wrong. But I’m happy with the way I played,” Fonseca said after falling to Sinner. “In my case, I think I shouldn’t head crazy when I’ve played well, when I’ve done things right, and the opponent has been superior.”
