Joao Fonseca is gearing up for his second season on the ATP Tour, starting with the Australian Open.
The 19-year-old missed both the Brisbane International and Adelaide International this month as he continued to recover from a back injury, though it looks like he’ll be ready to go in Melbourne.
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Fonseca has confirmed he’s ready to play after spending time away from competition, posting on Instagram: “I’m healthy. It was nothing serious. I can only say that I won’t get to Australia 100%, but I think I’ll be fine. These days will be important.”
The Brazilian made headlines during last year’s tournament by defeating ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets before falling to wildcard Arthur Cazaux in four sets.
Joao Fonseca gives fitness update before Australian Open
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Fonseca, quoted by the Guardian, said: “Every day I’m feeling better. Hopefully I can be near 100% [when the tournament starts on Sunday].
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“I need to respect my body and take the right decision because I have a long career ahead of me. I want to play [for] 15 more years.
“So you need to take care of your body and understand that sometimes you have to wait. But hopefully I can play well these next weeks.
The Brazilian made it clear he’s not putting too much pressure on himself early in the year, showing a patient approach as he builds towards peak form.
Potential third-round clash between Fonseca and Sinner at the Australian Open
If Fonseca does decide to play, his first-round match will be against American Eliot Spizzirri. In the second round, he could face either Luca Nardi or Yibing Wu.
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Looking ahead to a possible third-round matchup, Fonseca might find himself up against world number two Jannik Sinner, who is aiming for his third straight title at Melbourne Park.
The pair have never played each other at tour level before, but a meeting on Rod Laver Arena wouldn’t be surprising given the draw.
