Fonseca dresses as champion at the Next Gen ATP Finals 2024 | ATP Tour

Next Gen ATP Finals

Fonseca dresses as champion at the Next Gen ATP Finals 2024

He is the second youngest champion in the history of the tournament

December 22, 2024

Joao Fonseca wrote his name in gold letters in Jeddah, conquering the Next Gen ATP Finals present by PIF 2024 undefeated by beating the American Learner Tien 2-4, 4-3(8), 4-0, 4-2 in the final of the tournament. The Brazilian, the second youngest champion in the history of the tournament at 18 years old, imposed limitless momentum to complete one of the great feats of his budding career. If the event is a window to the future of the locker room, the South American marked the territory with a performance full of enthusiasm.

“I was very nervous before the final. I knew it was going to be very complicated,” Fonseca said before lifting the trophy with former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal present in the stands. “I played in a final against Learner in the junior category [en el US Open 2023] and I know how he can play. He’s a great guy and a fantastic player, I knew it would be difficult, mentally and physically. But I’ve done it.”

“I don’t know how I did in the second set. I tried to stay firm with the serve. I didn’t play my best tennis at the beginning, I was very nervous. After the second set, in the third set another Joao appeared. I was more aggressive in the blows and he tensed up a little. In the fourth set I gave my best level and got the victory.

Although expectations accompanied each of his blows, Fonseca responded to the challenge with the fortitude of a veteran. The Brazilian had become the third player capable of reaching the final before turning 19, a milestone that only two benchmarks of precocity such as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz had achieved. No spotlight diverted Joao’s attention.

Quite the contrary, the Brazilian embraced a test of coldness. Although Fonseca had already defeated Tien in the group stage, leaving the American without a game until the third set, the final presented an opponent prepared for the challenge. Far from finding a similar script, just two points prevented the North American from taking the first two heats and creating a completely opposite scenario.

Tien competed for the trophy carrying firm stripes after challenging the established order in Jeddah. The American had made his way to the final by knocking down the three main names of the tournament (Arthur Fils, Alex Michelsen and Jakub Mensik), compensating for his debutant status with permanent bravery. That momentum shined again in the final match, playing their options in search of the champion’s suit.

That renewed confidence was dismantled by Fonseca with a game full of variety, where hard blows like steel and subtle drop shots dismantled his opponent’s plan. The South American’s patience was key in a match with two very distinct halves, catching 10 of the last 12 games of the match on the way to the cup.

“I need to believe I can win before I start a tournament,” Fonseca said. “Now that I’ve won I think ‘wow, I’ve done it’. I feel very proud of myself.”

Fonseca rounded off a 2024 season of personal breakthrough in Jeddah, where he has gone from No. 730 to No. 145 in the world. The Brazilian, who won his first Challenger title in August, also cut his teeth on the ATP Tour, adding his first ATP Masters 1000 victory in Madrid and climbing to the quarterfinals at the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro. Merits that confirmed him as the main Brazilian figure today.

Fonseca joins a stellar honor roll at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, a stage that has accompanied the first big hits of future stars on the circuit. The Brazilian made his name in the seventh edition of the tournament, following in the footsteps of former champions such as Hyeon Chung (2017), Stefanos Tsitsipas (2018), Jannik Sinner (2019), Carlos Alcaraz (2021), Brandon Nakashima (2022) and Hamad Medjedovic (2023).

For his part, Tien completed a season of great professional support on the circuit in Jeddah, where he won his first three ATP Challenger Tour titles and reached the highest position of his career, reaching No. 114 in the PIF ATP Rankings. With the possibility of aiming for the world Top 100 in 2025, the North American consolidates himself as one of the young people with the greatest projection on the ATP Tour.

“I’ve had an amazing year,” Tien said. “This week has been positive. It didn’t end the way I wanted, but I’m proud of myself. I’m pleased with the progress this year.”

“I think I played great tennis this week. I’ll try not to let this loss break me down. I played good tennis and I’m looking forward to competing next season.”