Novak Djokovic believes one teenage player has the potential to become a “really big superstar”. The current world No. 7 has achieved virtually everything possible in tennis and rewritten history. Now, he thinks one up-and-comer could bring plenty of eyes to the sport.
Joao Fonseca has been enjoying a breakthrough season, and Djokovic is buying into the hype. The 24-time Major winner has been impressed with the teenager’s composure and believes that a new Brazilian star could be just what tennis needs.
Fonseca has been taking the tennis world by storm in recent months. Aged just 18, he won the Next Gen ATP Finals in December and carried his momentum straight into the 2025 season.
So far this year, the Brazilian has won the Canberra Challenger, qualified for his first Grand Slam main draw, upset ninth seed Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open, and lifted his first ATP Tour title in Argentina.
Fonseca is in action in Indian Wells this week, and he’s already made an impression in his opening match winning the last five games to beat Jacob Fearnley 6-2 1-6 6-3. So it’s no surprise that Djokovic sees huge potential in the current world No. 80.
Following Fonseca’s latest victory in the Californian desert, Djokovic was asked what it was like to be an 18-year-old playing freely and shared his thoughts on tennis’ latest prospect.
“A little bit. It comes in flashes, but yeah, it does feel great, you know, when you’re that young and playing in a high level, not much to lose, a lot to gain,” the Olympic champion said.
“Of course attention from the people, support, you know, builds up and it all adds to a great evolution of the player and the personality eventually will come to the point where it’s going to convert into pressure and expectations from himself, from the others, and so forth.”
For now, Djokovic thinks Fonseca is on the right path. “He seems to be handling it all very well,” he added.
“I mean, I don’t know him personally so well, but from what I have seen on the court, not only the way he plays but the way he behaves, and people around him, seems like there is a very good level of balance and professionalism and devotion, like what we have seen for the last couple years with [Carlos] Alcaraz.”
“He has the potential to be really a superstar of this game. No doubt about it. Coming from Brazil also, one of the biggest countries in the world, where they love tennis, love sports, very passionate people.
“It would be amazing for also our sport to have a Brazilian superstar, first really big superstar since Gustavo ‘Guga’ Kuerten, that was an idol of so many kids, incredible guy and big champion. Yeah, I wish him all the best.”
Fonseca will be delighted to hear the praise from Djokovic – especially after their heartwarming run-in after his opening match in Indian Wells. After his first-round win, the teenager got a brief moment to chat with the world No. 7.
“With Novak, I was just leaving the court that I practiced after my match, and then he was entering. He asked if I won. I said I won. Then he just congratulated me. It was just super cool that he was talking to me,” Fonseca said.
