Carlos Alcaraz to put Joao Fonseca theory to test in Miami | ATP Tour
Miami
Alcaraz to put Fonseca theory to test in Miami
Spaniard, Brazilian to meet for first time
March 20, 2026
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz and Joao Fonseca are each former Next Gen ATP Finals champions.
By Sam Jacot
Last week on the BNP Paribas OpenWorld No. 2 Jannik Sinner battled previous 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly, with the Italian saving three set factors and prevailing in two tie-breaks in Indian Wells.
Among these watching carefully was World No. 1 Carlos Alcarazwho got here away impressed.
“Obviously when someone is going toe to toe with Jannik, that means he had to play great tennis and perform really, really well,” Alcaraz said when asked about Fonseca in Indian Wells. “I couldn’t see the full match, but I saw that Joao is playing great tennis. I’m really happy to see Joao playing these kinds of matches, at this kind of level.”
Alcaraz additionally predicted Fonseca’s rise is simply simply starting and he will not have to wait lengthy to test that theory himself. On Friday night time on the Miami Open presented by Itauthe World No. 1 faces the Brazilian for the primary time in a matchup that already carries intrigue.
While it will likely be their first tour-level assembly, the 2 are removed from strangers. They shared the courtroom in 2023 Nitto ATP Finalswhen Fonseca was a sparring accomplice, and practiced collectively once more at Wimbledon final yr.
At 19, Alcaraz had already claimed a US Open title, rose to World No. 1 and lifted two ATP Masters 1000 trophies. Fonseca’s résumé remains to be growing, with titles at ATP 250 and 500 stage, however his fast progress has not gone unnoticed.
Now, below the lights on Stadium Court, the Brazilian will look to again up that expectation, and maybe ship a shock outcome, when he takes on the highest seed in the second spherical, not earlier than 7 pm native time.
