Some players arrive on the main tour like a bolt of lightning. João Fonseca is one of those. At just 19 years old, the Brazilian has electrified the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters by becoming the youngest player to reach the third round in Monaco since a certain Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet in 2005 (per ATP.com). That historical company speaks volumes about the youngster's potential.
To reach the last sixteen, Fonseca first dispatched compatriot Thiago Monteiro before delivering an epic battle against France's Arthur Rinderknech. A victory snatched in three sets (7-5, 4-6, 6-3) after more than two and a half hours of fearless, attacking tennis. "Fonseca Mania is everywhere," headlined Tennis Up To Date, and one must admit that the Monte-Carlo crowd has embraced the Brazilian with overwhelming enthusiasm.
What strikes you about Fonseca is a tactical maturity unusual for his age. On the Monte-Carlo clay, a surface that demands patience and point construction, the young Brazilian showed he can alternate between aggression and intelligent play. His devastating forehand, already identified as one of the most promising weapons on tour, wreaked considerable havoc on the Monegasque dirt.
The challenge awaiting him in the third round is formidable: Matteo Berrettini, riding high after inflicting a historic 6-0, 6-0 demolition on Daniil Medvedev. The Italian, a former Wimbledon finalist and wild card in Monte Carlo, is experiencing a renaissance that makes him particularly dangerous. For Fonseca, it is the perfect opportunity to measure his talent against an in-form veteran.
Regardless of the outcome, the message has been sent. Brazilian men's tennis, long quiet on the circuit since the exploits of Gustavo Kuerten, may have found its next champion in Fonseca. At Monte Carlo, the temple of European clay-court tennis, the kid from Rio proved he is no mere tourist.
