Novak Djokovic: Joao Fonseca has been 'talk of the tour' amid stunning breakout 2025 season

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Novak Djokovic is in Miami as he chases a first title of the season. But while there has been plenty of talk about his form and his partnership with Andy Murray, Djokovic himself wanted to talk about the next generation of tennis stars - with Jaoa Fonseca once again catching his eye. The Brazilian lost in the third round to Alex de Minaur, but that did not stop Djokovic heaping him with praise.

Djokovic Fonseca

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Novak Djokovic says teenage breakout star Joao Fonseca has been the "talk of the tour" in recent months due to his sensational form.

Brazil's Fonseca, 18, made it to the third round at the ongoing Miami Open, before being defeated by Alex de Minaur in three sets.

Fonseca had the crowd behind him on Monday night against the No. 10 seed, but fell to a tight 5-7 7-5 6-3 defeat. That loss might sting a little less when he hears what Djokovic had to say about him though.

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"He’s been [the] talk of the tour in the last several months. I mean, deservedly so. He’s just a very good tennis player," was Djokovic’s take, when asked in his press conference.

"I mean, so young. Just incredible firepower from both ends of the baseline, serve [as well]. He’s a very complete player.

"Of course, what is impressive is the way he strikes the ball, but even more so is how he handles the nerves on the court for someone that doesn't have experience at all playing at the highest level."

Fonseca did indeed handle the pressure well against de Minaur, as the two slugged it out late into the evening session - something the Australian called "a hell of a battle," after the match.

It lasted two and a half hours, with Fonseca eventually outdone by his own unforced error tally as he went for bigger and bigger shots.

The crowd was so one-sided in the teenager’s favour that De Minaur even jokingly wrote ‘Rio Open’ on the camera lens after his win.

Fonseca first made headlines by beating Andrey Rublev in the Australian Open this year, before going on to win an ATP 250 title in Buenos Aires.

"He's exciting for Brazil, for the world of tennis. I was saying back in Australia, for our tennis ecosystem, our sport, it's super important to have a superstar, future superstar, hopefully coming from Brazil," Djokovic added.

"He's a very exciting player to watch, but he's not the only one.

"You have [Jakub] Mensik. Maybe because people talk about Fonseca so much, they forgot about Mensik. [Learner] Tien, as well. All those players are very young, but they have as good rankings as he does. They're as good as him.

"I think it's exciting, I don't know what I should call it — that generation, the new generation is bringing. It's always great that you have exciting players to watch and see the players that have potential to reach the greatest heights and to carry this sport."

Djokvoci has yet to play Fonseca or Tien, but he has beaten Mensik, overcoming the teenager in three tough sets in Shanghai last season.

While Fonseca might be out of the Miami Open, Mensik has made it through to the round of 16, where he will play fellow Czech Tomas Machac.

Djokovic takes on No. 15 seed Lorenzo Musetti in the fourth round.

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