Boris Becker boldly names 18-year-old qualifier as 'dark horse' of Australian Open 2025 men's singles

Tennis great Boris Becker has made a bold prediction ahead of the Australian Open 2025, naming Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca as his dark horse in the men’s singles draw.

Fonseca, 18, has made it to the Australian Open main draw after battling it out through three rounds of qualifying. He first beat Argentine Federico Gomez in straight sets and served Coleman Wong a bagel en route to his win in the second round of qualifying. The Brazilian made light work of Thiago Tirante in the final round to seal his spot in the main draw of the year’s first Grand Slam.

German great Becker, who has six Majors to his name including two Australian Open titles, said he’s been a fan of Fonseca ever since they met 18 months ago.

Speaking on the “Becker Petkovic” podcast alongside fellow German tennis player Andrea Petkovic, he said, “May I tell you my dark horse for the men’s side? He made it through the qualifiers and I’ve been a great admirer of his craft ever since I got to know him during a training session in Turin a year and a half ago. Joao Fonseca.”

Becker’s choice drew quite a reaction from Petkovic, who exclaimed, “Oh what a player, Boris!”

“I think he is fantastic. The way he plays and his statements, just a terrific player,” added Boris Becker about Fonseca, who was the 2023 ITF World Junior champion.

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Boris Becker’s dark horse faces Andrey Rublev on Grand Slam debut

Becker’s prediction is backed by the fact that Fonseca is among the most promising young players on the tennis circuit. The teenager won his first Challenger title last year at the Lexington Challenger, but what followed was special as he clinched the Next Generation ATP Finals in December 2024.

The youngster began his 2025 season in fine fashion as he bagged his career’s second Challenger title at the Canberra Tennis International last week. He will face former World No. 5 and 2024 Australian Open quarterfinalist Andrey Rublev in the first round on Monday (Jan. 13).

Joao Fonseca poses with the Next Gen ATP Finals trophy. Source: Getty

“The Russian will have to play his best tennis to beat this ambitious young Brazilian. But my dark horse, I’m sticking with it, is Fonseca,” Becker said reinforcing his prediction on the same podcast.

Will Fonseca live up to the hype that Boris Becker has created around him? We will come to know over the next fortnight in Melbourne.