Fonseca Makes His Wimbledon Debut A Dream Come True

Joao Fonseca
Joao Fonseca (photo: Wimbledon video)

WIMBLEDON/WASHINGTON, June 30, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

What a difference a year has made for Joao Fonseca. One year ago, as a 17-year-old Fonseca was ranked outside the world’s Top 200 and he lost in the first round of the Wimbledon Championships qualifying. Fast forward 12 months, the Brazilian teenager is a year older – and wiser – and he’s ranked No. 54 with one ATP Tour title, won in Buenos Aires in February, under his belt.

After Fonseca made his main draw debut at the grass-court major Monday afternoon on No. 1 Court, with a 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (5) victory over British No. 2 Jacob Fearnley in two hours and a minute on the second-largest show court at the All England Club, the 18-year-old from Rio de Janeiro spoke about the importance that work, belief and dreams has played in his professional life.

“I’ve been working a lot and believing I can play good tennis. I think the key is work, belief, and to dream,” Fonseca said during his on-court interview. When he was asked what it meant to him to win his Wimbledon main draw debut, Fonseca said: “It means a lot. It’s super special for me. My favorite slam since my childhood. I’ve been watching all the matches.

“I’m sorry for winning against a British guy. But thanks a lot for the support here. Thanks for respecting the tennis today. Jacob is a great friend and player. Looking forward to the next meetings against him.”

On a day in which temperatures soared to 91º Fahrenheit (32º Celsius) Fonseca controlled his first-round match against Fearnley throughout. He hit 31 winners – including 11 aces – and committed just four double faults. He won 84 percent of his first-serve points, saved all four break points he faced and converted three of 11 break-point chances against Fearnley. Although Fonseca finished with 31 unforced errors he also benefited from 30 unforced errors made by his opponent and outpointed Fearnley 105-81.

With his victory, Fonseca became first 18-year-old to reach the second round at Wimbledon since Carlos Alcaraz in 2021.

Over the weekend, when Fonseca spoke during Media Day, he reflected upon how he had dreamed as a child of one day coming to play at Wimbledon.

“For me this tournament is a dream. Everything you can see is perfect, even the flowers. Every detail is just perfect. When you come here, you just see how amazing it is,” he said. “It’s just a dream come true. It’s for sure my favorite Grand Slam because of the culture and the history of Wimbledon. Every kid that plays tennis and wants to be a professional wants to come here.”

After defeating Fearnley, which advanced him play against 101st-ranked Jenson Brooksby of the United States in Wednesday’s second round, Fonseca was asked if he felt nervous making his main draw debut on No. 1 Court, the second-biggest show court at the All England Club.

“Yes,” he admitted. “At the start both of us were very nervous. Just making serves and there were no rallies. It’s a beautiful court. It’s a dream. It’s unbelievable. Very happy to have this opportunity.”

Alcaraz takes scenic route to advance to Wimbledon second round

As World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain began the title defense of his Wimbledon Championships crown, the two-time defending champion garnered the dubious honor of playing the longest match of Opening Day – four hours and 37 minutes – before garnering his 19th consecutive victory, a 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 victory over 138th-ranked Fabio Fognini of Italy, who was playing in his final Wimbledon before he retires later this season.

Indeed, Alcaraz, 22, was made to sweat for his win by the 38-year-old Fognini, whose wife, Flavia Pennetta, and the couple’s young daughter, watched from court side on Centre Court.

Looking back, the five-time major winner Alcaraz will realize that a win is a win – and the W is what matters the most – even if he wasn’t at his best.

Although Alcaraz finished with 52 winners – including 14 aces – he also committed 62 unforced errors. He served nine double faults and was broken by Fognini five times in 21 tries. Meanwhile, Fognini compiled 53 winners to 58 unforced errors and was broken by Alcaraz seven times in 15 attempts. Alcaraz outpointed his opponent 184-173. He improved to 14-1 lifetime in five-set majors.

By the end, the two combatants were all hugs and smiles at the net. There was a mutual sense of appreciation between them and it showed as they walked off the court together to shake hands with the chair umpire before going their separate ways.

“Playing the first match on Centre Court, the first match of any tournament, is never easy,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview. “I’ve been practicing pretty well; I’ve been playing on grass really well. But Wimbledon is special. It’s different. I could feel the difference between Wimbledon and the other tournaments. I just tried to play my best, to deal with the nerves the best I could. But I would say I can be better. I have to improve.

“I will try to improve the things that didn’t work today: the serve, the return – I think it’s a really great weapon on grass – and let’s keep enjoying being in Wimbledon.”

During his on-court interview, Alcaraz paid tribute to Fognini, who dropped to 0-7 this season and has never advanced past the third round at Wimbledon in 15 appearances. “I don’t know why it’s his last Wimbledon because the level he has shown, he can still play three or four more years. Unbelievable.”

Afterward, during his post-match news conference, Fognini summed up his feelings after playing in his final Wimbledon. “It was really emotional, I have to be honest,” he said. “I cried a lot, because as I say I didn’t expect to play five sets against [Carlos].”

Around the All England Club

On a day that two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz launched his title defense with a lengthy, five-set victory over Fabio Fognini and No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka made quick work of 194th-ranked qualifier Carson Branstine of Canada, winning 6-1, 7-5, in one hour and 13 minutes in back of 17 winners, there were plenty of other happenings around the grounds of the All England Club:

• First player to finish their first-round match at this year’s Championships goes to No. 14 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, who needed just 62 minutes to defeat No. 75 Anna Bondar of Hungary, 6-3, 6-1, on Court 18.

• First British player to record a first-round victory at this year’s Championships goes to No. 51 Sonay Kartal, who upset No. 20 seed Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2, in one hour and 56 minutes on No. 3 Court.

• Biggest British victory of the day goes to No. 43 Katie Boulter. The 28-year-old Leicester native rallied to beat No. 9 seed Paula Badosa of Spain, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, in one hour and 54 minutes on Centre Court. Boulter hit 27 winners and outpointed Badosa 89-79. It was her fourth career win against a Top-10 opponent and second at a major. She joins Sonay Kartal and Emma Raducanu into the second round.

• Among the seeded men’s winners on Monday were: No. 12 Frances Tiafoe of the United States, who advanced with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over No. 117 Elmer Moller of Denmark, in one hour and 45 minutes on Court 12; No. 14 Andrey Rublev of Russia, who defeated No. 60 Laslo Djere of Serbia, 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (9), 7-6 (6), in three hours and 15 minutes; No. 17 Karen Khachanov of Russia, who beat No. 88 Mackenzie McDonald of the United States, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4, in two hours and 11 minutes; No. 23 Jiri Lehecka of Czechia, who defeated No. 79 Hugo Dellien of Bolivia, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (0), in two hours and 25 minutes on Court 17; No. 25 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, who needed three hours and 42 minutes and five sets to defeat No. 103 James Duckworth of Australia, 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-4; and No. 27 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, who eliminated No. 99 Brandon Holt of the United States, 6-2, 6-4, 7-5, in one hour and 48 minutes on Court 9.

• Among the seeded men’s players to fall in the first round Monday were: No. 9 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia, who fell to No. 64 Benjamin Bonzi of France, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2, in three hours and seven minutes. Also, No. 8 seed Holger Rune of Denmark, who lost to 143rd-ranked Chilean Nicolas Jarry, 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, in three hours and 34 minutes on No. 3 Court; No. 16 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, who was eliminated by No. 37 Nuno Borges of Portugal, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-0, in two hours and 28 minutes on Court 17; No. 20 Alexei Popyrin of Australia was upset by 461st-ranked British wild card Arthur Fery, 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, in two hours and 49 minutes on Court 15, and No. 31 Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, who lost to No. 101 Jenson Brooksby of the United States, 6-2, 7-5, 6-3, in two hours and 18 minutes on Court 14.

• Among the seeded women’s winners on Monday were: No. 4 seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy, who beat 402nd-ranked Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, in one hour and 51 minutes on No. 2 Court; No. 6 Madison Keys of the United States, who defeated No. 58 Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 7-5, in two hours and 41 minutes on No. 2 Court; No. 13 Amanda Anisimova of the United States, who upended Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, 6-0, 6-0; No. 21 Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil, who beat No. 34 Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia, 7-6 (7), 6-4, in two hours and three minutes on Court 10; No. 22 Donna Vekic of Croatia, who prevailed over No. 74 Kimberly Birrell of Australia, 6-0, 6-4, in 79 minutes on Court 15; and No. 29 Leylah Fernandez of Canada, who defeated 573rd-ranked wild card Hannah Klugman of Great Britain, 6-1, 6-3, in 69 minutes on Court 12.

• Among the seeded women to lose in the first round Monday were: No. 20 seed Jelena Ostapenko, who was upset by No. 51 Sonay Kartal of Great Britain and No. 32 McCartney Kessler of the United States, who fell to 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova of Czechia, now ranked 73rd, 6-1, 7-6 (3), in 85 minutes on Court 12.

• There were two retirements on Opening Day: No. 24 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece quit because of persistent back problems against No. 113 Valentin Royer of France after trailing 6-3, 6-2 on Court 12. Also, two-time former Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur of Tunisia retired from her match against Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria after trailing 7-6 (5), 2-0.

• With play on No. 1 Court completed following back-to-back-to-back straight victories by Aryna Sabalenka, Joao Fonseca and Emma Raducanu and play on No. 2 Court backed up, the match between No. 5 seed Taylor Fritz of the United States and No. 36 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France was moved to No. 1 Court with the roof closed and an 11 p.m. curfew looming in the distance.

As it turned out, play was suspended after two hours and 53 minutes of play, after Fritz won a fourth set tie-break to level the first-round match at 2-sets each. Mpetshi Perricard won the first two sets, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (8) and Fritz rallied to win the third and fourth sets, 6-4, 7-6 (6). They will resume play Tuesday not before 2:30 p.m., following the conclusion of the first match of the day between Italians Jannik Sinner and Luca Nardi.

• Among the Opening Day celebrities sitting in the Royal Box at Wimbledon Monday were former England soccer captain David Beckham, 2004 Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova, who won Wimbledon at age 17; Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and former England soccer coach Gareth Southgate. Also, representing the Royal Family was Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice, who was joined by her husband Eduardo Madeline Mozilla and her mother Sarah, Duchess of York – also known as Sarah Ferguson.

Monday’s Wimbledon results

Tuesday’s Wimbledon order of play

By the numbers

Opening Day at Wimbldon saw players and specators, alike, hit by record-breaking Day 21 heat as temperatures at the All England Club rose to 91 degrees Fahrenheit – 33 degrees Celsius.

According to the Associated Press, the average daytime temperature in London in June is 71 degrees Fahrenheit (21.5 degrees Celsius). The government weather office reports this spring was Britain’s “warmest and sunniest” since this data has been tracked.

“Quotable …”

“For the moment, I’m not that worried. If I finish the year somewhere around (No.) 15 in the world, maybe I will be more worried. For the moment, I am not.”

– World No. 9 Daniil Medvedev of Russia, who was upset in the first-round by 64th-ranked Benjamin Bonzi of France. 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2 at Wimbledon on Monday.

 

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