"Checks every box" - Serena Williams' ex-coach predicts bright future for Joao Fonseca right alongside Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

Rick Macci, Serena Williams' former coach, says Joao Fonseca is the best upcoming talent he has seen in recent times and has given him a new nickname - the “Brazilian Blaster". The Brazilian recently booked his place in the second round of the Australian Open.

Fonseca raised eyebrows with his fabulous win against ninth seed Andrey Rubvlev at the Australian Open, and Macci said he knew the Brazilian was destined for greatness when he saw him play at the 2023 US Open Juniors. Joao Fonseca went on to win the tournament.

Writing on social media platform X, Macci said:

“I saw Fonseca and his unique inner wiring at the U.S. OPEN JUNIORS. The Brazilian Blaster has the genetic base no technical flaws unreal courage mental magic and could easily change the direction of the ball and around the corner will change the direction of the ATP RANKINGS.”

Fonseca, who was the ITF World Junior champion in 2023 and the winner of the ATP Next Generation Finals in 2024, has made rapid strides over the past two years. He won his career’s second Challenger title earlier this month and is expected to break into the ATP top 100 very soon.

Macci felt Fonseca was the best young prospect he had seen since Carlos Alcaraz.

“New kid on the block with explosive firepower and the right mental make up. Best young prospect I have seen since Carlos. The Brazilian Blaster Joao Fonseca from the eye ball test checks every box. Hanging out in the future with Alcaraz and Sinner at a court near you.”

Martina Navratilova likens Joao Fonseca to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

Joao Fonseca after his win over Andrey Rublev (Image Source: Getty)

Apart from Rick Macci, tennis icon Martina Navratilova also heaped praise on Fonseca. Tje 68-year-old said that she saw similarities in tje Brazilian, Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.

“The biggest thing that I saw, of course (he has) massive serve, but that forehand…he's got that (Carlos) Alcaraz and (Jannik) Sinner quality. He hits it hard and then he can hit it harder. You can hear the gasps of the crowd reacting to the power that's coming off his racquet,” Navratilova said in a chat with Tennis Channel. (1:07 onwards).

After beating Andrey Rublev, Joao Fonseca will next face Lorenzo Sonego in the second round. The Brazilian beat the Italian 7-6(5), 7-5 in their last meeting, which came in Bucharest in 2024.