Tennis
Australian Open 2025: Joao Fonseca Upsets Andrey Rublev In First Round

The Brazilian fans were out in force to support 18-year-old Joao Fonseca in his first-round Australian Open match against ninth-ranked Andrey Rublev. Fonseca is the reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion and is currently ranked 112th in the world.
A ⭐️ is born.
Brazil have a new Fenômeno and his name is Joao Fonseca!
The 18-year-old qualifier beats No.9 seed Andrey Rublev 7-6(1) 6-3 7-6(5)@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/lBYZunZEcq
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2025
With the win, Joao Fonseca completes many career firsts. It is his first Grand Slam tournament, his first time in the main draw, and his first win over a Top 10 player.
How Did Joao Fonseca Do It?
It is worth noting that Andrey Rublev did not play poorly. Fonseca overpowered him and played the big points with the composure of a player twice his age.
Many have predicted his ascent in tennis before this match. Jannik Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, described when Sinner hit with Fonseca, a relative unknown, who was still grappling with the decision of whether to turn pro or go to college.
Cahill was so impressed with him then that he predicted he would be in the Top 25 by the end of the year. When the Australian Open draw was released, Cahill circled this match because he expected it to be a blockbuster.
It turns out Cahill was right. Fonseca hit 51 winners in the match. Equally impressive was his post-match on-court interview, in which he thanked the fans and was not overwhelmed or overhyped by the moment.
What’s Next For Joao Fonseca?
He has a second-round match with Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. Fonseca defeated Sonego last year at Bucharest in straight sets (best of three) 7-6 7-5. Sonego is World No. 55 and achieved a career-high World No. 21 ranking in 2021.
Fonseca is brimming with momentum, confidence, and plenty of Brazilian fan support in Melbourne. Should he defeat Sonego, his third-round opponent could be an intriguing one, American Frances Tiafoe.