Teenage tennis star and 'generational talent' João Fonseca

  Fonseca balances power with patience as he progresses in the game.

Ever since he first picked up a tennis racket, João Fonseca has shown a penchant for power—even if the results have been mixed.

"I was the kind of kid who would destroy the ball," Fonseca says. "Sometimes, the ball would go into the fence; sometimes, it would go straight to the floor; and then, sometimes, we would win."

This fearless, fiery, and unbridled attitude has persisted throughout the Brazilian's professional career, and today, his magnificent forehand is one of the most breathtaking sights in men's tennis.

When it comes to true power, especially on the forehand wing, few players can match the 19-year-old Fonseca. This not-so-subtle, not-so-secret weapon has earned him two ATP Tour titles this year, including last week's victory in the Swiss city of Basel.

There, Fonseca hit 29 winning shots to defeat Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the final, with an average forehand speed of 81 mph. For comparison, top players typically average around 75 mph.

Fonseca told CNN Sports about his aggressive approach, "I think my coach was the first to say: 'Keep your aggression.'" "Keep doing that, but at the same time, try to get stronger."

"Over the past few years, I've realized that you can't hit the ball hard every time... Sometimes, it can be a stupid idea, but sometimes, it's good to be aggressive, be bold, and trust your shots."

Despite still being a teenager, Fonseca's potential is immense, and as he continues to refine his game, his incredible power will only become more dangerous. For some, he is destined to reach the pinnacle of the sport, alongside the best players in men's tennis this year, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Serena Williams' former coach, Rick Massey, recently wrote on X, "As I said two years ago, the Brazilian blaster (Fonseca) is a generational talent and will one day be at the top alongside the Italian flamethrower (Sinner) and the Spanish magician (Alcaraz)."

Massey further stated that these players would form "a new Big Three" to replace Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

Davidovich Fokina echoed this sentiment during his runner-up speech in Basel, telling Fonseca that he would "definitely be the next Nole (Djokovic) to beat Carlos and Jannik."

After winning the Next Gen ATP Finals last year – a tournament featuring the world's best players under the age of 20 – Fonseca made headlines in January with a straight-sets victory over ninth-seeded Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open.

A month later, he won the Argentina Open, becoming the second-youngest South American to win an ATP title in the Open Era.

But Fonseca's progress hasn't been swift. He hasn't advanced beyond the third round of a Grand Slam this year, which is perhaps surprising given his impressive performance at the start of the season.

However, victory in Basel reaffirmed his status as one of the game's most explosive talents, with Fonseca climbing 18 places to 28th in the rankings. This puts him on track to achieve his self-imposed goals for next year.

"I think one of my goals is to be a top 32 seed at a Grand Slam," Fonseca says. "This is my personal goal. I'm working hard to achieve it... Let's see what happens."

To reach this point, Fonseca had to spend his early years developing a connection to tennis. As a young player, the sport made him restless, and he often found himself chasing big, explosive shots on the court. Off the court, he became even more impatient, unable to watch a full match without losing interest.

This changed around 2019, when Fonseca became completely immersed in Novak Djokovic's victory over Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, which lasted four hours and 57 minutes—the longest final in the tournament's history.

A self-proclaimed Federer superfan, Fonseca was deeply moved by that match. As he began to enjoy tennis as a spectator, he often watched memorable matches between the "Big 3" on the sport's biggest stages, but the Swiss star captivated him the most.

"I think one of my goals is to break into the top 32 (at a Grand Slam)," Fonseca says. "That's my personal goal. I'm working hard towards it... let's see what happens."

To reach this point, Fonseca had to spend his early years developing a connection to tennis. As a young player, the sport made him restless, and he often found himself chasing big, explosive shots on the court. Off the court, he became even more impatient, unable to watch a full match without losing interest.

That changed around 2019, when Fonseca became completely immersed in Novak Djokovic's victory over Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, which lasted four hours and 57 minutes—the longest in the tournament's history.