João Fonseca, 18, became the youngest man to reach Wimbledon’s third round since 2011 after defeating Jenson Brooksby in four sets.
João Fonseca arrived at Wimbledon 2025 with promise but limited expectations. On Wednesday, he delivered a performance that put him on the international radar. The 18-year-old from Brazil outplayed American Jenson Brooksby in four sets, winning 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to become the youngest man to reach the third round of Wimbledon since Bernard Tomic did so 14 years ago.
Fonseca’s win wasn’t just a matter of youthful energy. It was built on resilience and tactical poise. After dropping a tight second set, he immediately reset, took command of the third, and closed out the match in the fourth. In doing so, he became the first Brazilian man to reach the third round at the All England Club since Thomaz Bellucci in 2010.
The significance of the moment wasn’t lost on Fonseca, who celebrated with restrained emotion, offering a brief nod to the crowd before heading to his chair with calm confidence.
Teenage dream at just 18 🇧🇷
Joao Fonseca becomes the youngest man to reach the third round since 2011#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/R6HkrEHFVY
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2025
A Measured Win Over a Proven Opponent
Brooksby, 24, entered the match with experience and a style that can frustrate younger players. His defensive instincts and ability to extend rallies have troubled higher-ranked opponents in the past. Fonseca had to find ways to remain patient without becoming passive, a difficult balance to strike, as it often rewards aggression and precision.
The Brazilian showed he could do both. He served with control, winning over 70 percent of his first-serve points, and consistently found space on the court to hit his forehand. The match lasted three hours and 14 minutes, a physical and mental test that Fonseca passed with composure.
Vamos! 🇧🇷
18-year-old Joao Fonseca defeats Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to reach 2R at #Wimbledon for the first time in his career. pic.twitter.com/il6YlNv5p6
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2025
What stood out most was Fonseca’s ability to recover quickly. After losing the second set, he broke Brooksby early in the third and never looked back. In the fourth set, he saved two break points while serving at 3-2, then immediately capitalized on Brooksby’s next service game. For a player in his first Wimbledon main draw, the poise was notable.
What’s Next: A Third-Round Test Against Nicolás Jarry
Fonseca now moves into a third-round matchup against Chile’s Nicolás Jarry, a powerful and seasoned player ranked in the top 20. It will be a different kind of challenge for Fonseca, who has shown early in his pro career that he isn’t intimidated by established names.
João no momento da vitória de hoje! ✨♥️
📸: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/4AbyLw1Xel
— João Fonseca Updates (@fonsecaupdates) July 2, 2025
Jarry plays a more aggressive, serve-dominant game than Brooksby and will look to dictate points early. For Fonseca, the key will be to hold serve consistently and find ways to extend rallies when possible. Jarry’s style could give Fonseca more opportunities to counter, but the margin for error will be smaller.
Regardless of the result, Fonseca’s presence in the third round marks a milestone for Brazilian men’s tennis and for his own development. He’s the latest in a new generation of players making early noise on the sport’s biggest stages. His run this week won’t go unnoticed.
A Breakthrough Moment for Brazilian Tennis
Fonseca’s rise adds to a growing list of emerging young talent in men’s tennis. However, his success also holds significance for Brazil, a country with a rich tennis history but a limited recent presence on the men’s side at Grand Slam events.
Brazil hasn’t had a male player make a deep run at Wimbledon in over a decade. Fonseca’s win alone doesn’t change the national landscape, but it signals the potential for something more. His style, athletic, composed, and opportunistic, is well-suited for the modern game.
The third round presents a steep test, but Fonseca has already shown he belongs. For a player in his first year of full-time tour action, that’s more than enough. Wimbledon may just be the beginning.
