Joao Fonseca repeats his childhood photo with Rafael Nadal | ATP Tour

Next Gen ATP Finals

14 years later! Fonseca repeats his childhood photo with Nadal

The Brazilian #NextGenATP met the Spanish legend in Jeddah

December 21, 2024

A memorable week for Joao Fonseca added a great childhood memory with an ATP Tour legend on Friday afternoon.

Taking advantage of a three-day visit by Rafael Nadal to the Next Gen ATP Finals, Fonseca showed the Spaniard a photograph taken when the Brazilian was just four years old, with his mother and Nadal himself in South Africa in 2010. Fourteen years later, The three repeated the image, a photograph that Nadal recognized in the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup final.

Rafael Nadal/Joao Fonseca/Roberta Fonseca” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2024/12/21/09/35/nadal-fonseca-2010-photo.jpg?w=100%25″ style=”width: 100%;”>
_{^{Rafael Nadal, four-year-old Joao Fonseca and Roberta Fonseca in South Africa in 2010. Photograph courtesy of Joao Fonseca}}

Although his coexistence on the circuit with Nadal was relatively brief after the Spaniard’s retirement in November, Fonseca had the opportunity to enjoy the talent of the former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. The Brazilian frequently visited the Rio Open presented by Claro since he was a child, and saw Nadal’s triumph at the ATP 500 in 2014.

Nadal and Fonseca also competed this season at the Mutua Madrid Open, where the Brazilian scored his first ATP Masters 1000 victory and spoke about the impact of Nadal’s presence in the locker room.

“Rafa is a legend,” Fonseca told ATPTour.com this week in Jeddah, reflecting on Nadal’s incredible 11-title 2005 season as a teenager. “I am an admirer of Roger, but I also adore Rafa. My coach is a fan of Rafa. Rafa appears on the wallpaper of my phone with a phrase. It has been a pleasure to meet him. Eleven titles in a season is something brutal. I will try to do the same”.

The last meeting between Fonseca and Nadal occurred shortly before the Brazilian took to the court in Jeddah, where he beat Jakub Mensil in a vibrant five-set duel to complete an impeccable group stage at the Next Gen ATP Finals. Fonseca, the first player from his country to play in the tournament, will face Luca van Assche in Saturday’s semifinals.