One of the most exciting players of the tennis tour is confirmed at the Rio Open presented by Claro. João Fonseca, champion of the Next Gen ATP Finals, has received the first wild card for the main draw of the ATP 500, which will take place on February 15- 23 at the Jockey Club Brasileiro.
At 18 years old, João has made an impression wherever he goes, gaining the attention of fans in Brazil and around the world. His ascension began at the Rio Open 2024, when he won his first match in an ATP main draw and reached the quarterfinals, defeating Arthur Fils and Cristian Garin along the way. That run changed his career, playing a crucial role in his decision to compete in the professional tour instead of pursuing college tennis.
João grew up going to the Rio Open, since the first edition in 2014 and every edition thereafter. The Rio de Janeiro native had the chance to see great players like Rafael Nadal up close, drawing inspiration to pursue a tennis career. Later, in 2022, João was the official sparring partner for the tournament, training alongside stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Matteo Berrettini.
In 2022, João was also part of the Brazilian team that won the Junior Davis Cup. The following year, at the age of 16, he received a wildcard and made his debut at the Rio Open, competing in his first ATP main draw tournament at home. That same year, he became a star in the junior tour with impressive results, including winning the US Open title and achieving the World No. 1 ranking in the junior rankings, earning the ITF’s World Junior Champion award for the 2023 season.
João's breakthrough in 2024 wasn’t limited to the Rio Open. The year was also marked by many firsts in his career: his first Challenger title in Lexington, his first main draw win in a Masters 1000 event in Madrid, his first Grand Slam appearance in Wimbledon, where he participated in qualifying, and his debut with the Brazilian national team in the Davis Cup. However, the highlight came at the very end of the season when he won the Next Gen ATP Finals, a tournament that brings together the best under-20 players in the world, held in Jeddah, without dropping a single match.
Boosted by his great campaign in Jeddah, João started 2025 strong, winning the Canberra Challenger title without losing a set. He then headed to the Australian Open, where he also went through qualifying without losing a set and made his way into his first main draw of a Grand Slam as a professional player, where he defeated top 10 player Andrey Rublev in his debut.
“I’m very happy to receive this wild card. It’s a very special tournament for me, being able to play at home and with the Brazilian crowd supporting me is one of the most important moments of my season. It was at the Rio Open where I had my first contact with tennis, both as a fan and as a player, and my experience last year was simply unforgettable," said João Fonseca, who will compete in his third edition of South America’s biggest tennis tournament.
“We’ve always dreamed that our event would serve as an inspiration for new boys and girls to get into tennis, and João represents this Rio Open generation. He’s been with us since 2014, and the experience he’s gained from each edition has contributed to him staying in the sport and growing. There’s huge anticipation for how far he can go, and we’re excited for João’s first participation in Brazil since his breakout, hoping the Rio Open continues to be a stepping stone for his career, as it was for other young talents like Casper Ruud, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Carlos Alcaraz,” said Luiz Carvalho, Director of the Rio Open.
João Fonseca joins the already confirmed Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, and Lorenzo Musetti, as well as João Lucas Reis in qualifying, for the 2025 edition of the Rio Open presented by Claro.
The Rio Open is promoted by IMM and organized by ICT.
At 18 years old, João has made an impression wherever he goes, gaining the attention of fans in Brazil and around the world. His ascension began at the Rio Open 2024, when he won his first match in an ATP main draw and reached the quarterfinals, defeating Arthur Fils and Cristian Garin along the way. That run changed his career, playing a crucial role in his decision to compete in the professional tour instead of pursuing college tennis.
João grew up going to the Rio Open, since the first edition in 2014 and every edition thereafter. The Rio de Janeiro native had the chance to see great players like Rafael Nadal up close, drawing inspiration to pursue a tennis career. Later, in 2022, João was the official sparring partner for the tournament, training alongside stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Matteo Berrettini.
In 2022, João was also part of the Brazilian team that won the Junior Davis Cup. The following year, at the age of 16, he received a wildcard and made his debut at the Rio Open, competing in his first ATP main draw tournament at home. That same year, he became a star in the junior tour with impressive results, including winning the US Open title and achieving the World No. 1 ranking in the junior rankings, earning the ITF’s World Junior Champion award for the 2023 season.
João's breakthrough in 2024 wasn’t limited to the Rio Open. The year was also marked by many firsts in his career: his first Challenger title in Lexington, his first main draw win in a Masters 1000 event in Madrid, his first Grand Slam appearance in Wimbledon, where he participated in qualifying, and his debut with the Brazilian national team in the Davis Cup. However, the highlight came at the very end of the season when he won the Next Gen ATP Finals, a tournament that brings together the best under-20 players in the world, held in Jeddah, without dropping a single match.
Boosted by his great campaign in Jeddah, João started 2025 strong, winning the Canberra Challenger title without losing a set. He then headed to the Australian Open, where he also went through qualifying without losing a set and made his way into his first main draw of a Grand Slam as a professional player, where he defeated top 10 player Andrey Rublev in his debut.
“I’m very happy to receive this wild card. It’s a very special tournament for me, being able to play at home and with the Brazilian crowd supporting me is one of the most important moments of my season. It was at the Rio Open where I had my first contact with tennis, both as a fan and as a player, and my experience last year was simply unforgettable," said João Fonseca, who will compete in his third edition of South America’s biggest tennis tournament.
“We’ve always dreamed that our event would serve as an inspiration for new boys and girls to get into tennis, and João represents this Rio Open generation. He’s been with us since 2014, and the experience he’s gained from each edition has contributed to him staying in the sport and growing. There’s huge anticipation for how far he can go, and we’re excited for João’s first participation in Brazil since his breakout, hoping the Rio Open continues to be a stepping stone for his career, as it was for other young talents like Casper Ruud, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Carlos Alcaraz,” said Luiz Carvalho, Director of the Rio Open.
João Fonseca joins the already confirmed Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, and Lorenzo Musetti, as well as João Lucas Reis in qualifying, for the 2025 edition of the Rio Open presented by Claro.
The Rio Open is promoted by IMM and organized by ICT.
