How Did Fonseca Outshine Fearnley at Wimbledon 2025?

London, June 30 (NationPress) Joao Fonseca, the talented young Brazilian, made a stunning debut at Wimbledon, swiftly overcoming home favourite Jacob Fearnley in a straight-sets victory during the first round on Monday. Fonseca won 6-4, 6-1, 7-6(5), marking him as the first 18-year-old to progress to the second round at this grass major since Carlos Alcaraz in 2021.

Another newcomer, French qualifier Valentin Royer, also moved forward after Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas was compelled to retire due to a back injury during his opening match.

Royer was ahead 6-3, 6-2 against Tsitsipas, who took a medical timeout in the second set due to his back issue. The former World No. 3 appeared to struggle at times during the 74 minutes of play, managing only 43% of his first serves.

In his Wimbledon debut, Fonseca showcased a commanding performance and remained composed in a crucial moment when facing set point down at 5-6, 30/40 in the third set.

“This means a lot to me. It’s incredibly special,” Fonseca expressed in his post-match interview. “Wimbledon has been my favourite Grand Slam since childhood. I’ve followed all the matches, so it's truly a pleasure to be here. I apologize for defeating a British player, but I appreciate all the support. Jacob is a fantastic friend and player, and I look forward to our future encounters.”

Prior to the Australian Open in January, Fonseca had never participated in a Grand Slam main draw. However, he made headlines by defeating then-Top 10 player Andrey Rublev in Melbourne, establishing his presence on the global tennis stage.

After claiming his first ATP Tour title in February in Buenos Aires, Fonseca advanced to the third round of a major for the first time at Roland Garros.

Despite these impressive recent performances, Fonseca's dismantling of Fearnley at Wimbledon was particularly remarkable. Even though he played in qualifying last year, the teenager had only contested four tour-level matches on grass before Monday's encounter. Nevertheless, he effortlessly adapted his clean-hitting style to the unfamiliar surface against Fearnley.

In his opening match, Tsitsipas, trained by former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, exited SW19 with a 19-13 record for the season. The 26-year-old became the second men’s seed to exit on Day 1, joining Daniil Medvedev.

Tsitsipas currently sits at 22nd in the ATP Live Race To Turin, having not progressed beyond the third round in his last five tournaments. A former ATP Finals champion, he participated in this prestigious year-end event for five consecutive years from 2019 to 2023. His best result this year came in Dubai, where he secured his 12th tour-level title.