Tennis

The Future Is Now: Joao Fonseca Defeats Learner Tien At 2025 Miami Open

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By
wendioliveros
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wendioliveros Sports Editor

Wendi Oliveros is a diehard tennis fan that is known to set her clock at ridiculous hours to watch live action especially during the Australian Open. She is known for indulging in strawberries and cream during Wimbledon and has watched the US Open live several times.

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Sports Editor

Published20 Mar 2025

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Joao Fonseca

Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien are teenage tennis stars who know each other well.  Fonseca has been on the winning end of three of the four previous meetings between the two players dating back to 2023.  The most recent was at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals.

Fonseca brings the power, and Tien has the placement.  It is the clash of styles and personalities that produced a great night of tennis at the Miami Open.

Brazilian fans filled the Grandstand with their yellow and green shirts and flags.  Their cheers outnumbered the American cheers for Tien who despite geography did not enjoy the home-field advantage.  It did not seem to affect him as he went about his business.

Learner Tien won the first set in a tiebreaker that was anti-climatic compared to the rest of the set.  Fonseca came back to win the second set and was up 3-2 in the third set and about to serve when an odd thing happened.

Joao Fonseca Called For The Doctor

Fonseca suddenly looked pale and ill.  He asked for a trash bag.  The trainer gave him antacids. The chair umpire’s microphone picked up audio of him saying that he felt dizzy and as if he would throw up.

It was such a surprising turn of events especially since Learner Tien was coming off an illness and was seen coughing at one point at the service line so if anyone needed a doctor, Tien would have been more likely.

Somehow Fonseca kept it together, served well, kept the points short, and won the match.  There was another minor scare when he tweaked his leg on a rally late in the third set.  He made a pained face but shook it off.

Fonseca is 18, and Tien is 19.  If anyone is remotely concerned about the depth of men’s tennis, there is no need to worry. The next generation is closing in quickly.