Joao Fonseca Shatters Records at ATP Masters 1000 in Miami

Miami, Florida — Joao Fonseca became the youngest player to reach the third round at an ATP Masters 1000 event since Carlos Alcaraz in 2021. The Brazilian teenager, 18, achieved this milestone on Saturday, March 22, 2025, after defeating 19th seed Ugo Humbert with a score of 6-4, 6-3.

Fonseca’s performance marked a significant achievement in his career, showcasing his potential as one of tennis’ rising stars. In a match that lasted just 71 minutes, he demonstrated a commanding play style, breaking Humbert’s serve early and maintaining dominance throughout the contest.

“When the crowd is with any player, they are more hyped,” said Fonseca in a post-match interview. “I started the match today super relaxed, with no nerves. That was good; I served well and didn’t let him have opportunities on my serve.”

The match was originally scheduled for the Grandstand but was moved to the Stadium due to a last-minute schedule change. As the Brazilian fans filtered in, they created an electric atmosphere that propelled Fonseca to victory.

In stark contrast to his previous match, where he suffered physically, Fonseca showed no signs of discomfort against Humbert. He dropped only four points on his serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and improved his record against Top-20 players to 3-2.

With this victory, Fonseca ascends to a new career-high ranking of No. 58 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Earlier this season, he claimed his maiden tour-level title in Buenos Aires and is expected to face a yet-to-be-determined opponent in the third round.

This historic win for Fonseca comes during an exciting time in his young career and has set high expectations for his future in the sport.

Meanwhile, World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz faced disappointment as he exited the Miami Open prematurely, losing to David Goffin in the opening round. Alcaraz remarked, “Simply, the guy played great tennis… I didn’t make the most of the chances he gave me,” reflecting on his struggle to pressurize Goffin’s serve.

Despite having a successful season so far, which included one title and strong showings in other tournaments, Alcaraz expressed frustration over his early elimination from a tournament where he had previously flourished.

“How am I feeling? Dreadful. Dreadful because of this defeat,” Alcaraz said. “This is a tournament I always want to do well at, and losing my first match hurts.”