Martina Navratilova gives her verdict on Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz-like Joao Fonseca after Australian Open 1R heroics

Joao Fonseca’s explosive power-hitting at the Australian Open 2025 has impressed fans and pundits alike. Martina Navratilova was thoroughly impressed by the sheer force the young Brazilian generated on the court.

Fonseca made a dream Grand Slam debut on Tuesday, January 14, as he cruised to a 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (5) over ninth-seed Andrey Rublev.

The 18-year-old caused among the biggest upsets of the Melbourne Major and displayed a range of powerful baseline strokes, which made him an instant crowd favorite.

The pick amongst those was a thunderous forehand in the third set. Joao Fonseca attacked the ball on the rise and fired a forehand down-the-line winner that clocked 181 kmph - the fastest winner at the Australian Open 2025.

Speaking on the Tennis Channel, Martina Navratilova lauded the 18-year-old Brazilian.

“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,” she said (1:07 onwards).

Navratilova explained what made Fonseca’s game so clinical, saying he could increase the power of his strokes as and when needed.

“The backhand was amazing too. I mean, he hits it hard all the time and then he can take it up another 10%. It's impressive,” she added.

Boris Becker picks Joao Fonseca as his dark horse for Australian Open 2025

Joao Fonseca celebrates winning a point at the 2025 Australian Open. Source: Getty

Fonseca, who won the 2024 Next Generation ATP Finals, has also been praised by the great Boris Becker. In a recent episode of the “Becker Petkovic” podcast, Becker had chosen Fonseca as his “dark horse” for the year’s first Grand Slam.

“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,” said Becker.

Fonseca began the season by clinching the Canberra Tennis International Challenger and then made the main draw of the Melbourne Major after coming through three rounds of qualifying.

“I think he is fantastic. The way he plays and his statements, just a terrific player,” said Becker.

Joao Fonseca will look to extend his fairytale run in his maiden Grand Slam appearance when he takes on Lorenzo Sonego in the second round of the Australian Open 2025 on Thursday, January 16.