18-Year-Old Qualifier João Fonseca Stuns World No.9 Rublev in Straight Sets at Australian Open Debut

Jan 14, 2025, 12:10 PM

Brazil's 18-year-old tennis sensation João Fonseca stunned the tennis world by defeating World No.9 Andrey Rublev in straight sets at the Australian Open 2025. Making his Grand Slam main draw debut, Fonseca triumphed 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-6(5) over the ninth seed in a match lasting 2 hours and 23 minutes. The young Brazilian, who recently won the Next Gen ATP Finals and came through the qualifying rounds, showcased exceptional talent by hitting 29 winners and extending his winning streak to 14 matches. With this victory, Fonseca becomes only the second teenager since 1973 to defeat a top 10 opponent in their Grand Slam debut, and the first since 2017 to do so in straight sets. He will face Lorenzo Sonego in the second round.