TENNIS
Brazilian tennis star Fonseca caps off 2025 with trophy in Basel

João Fonseca became the first Brazilian man in a quarter-century to win an ATP 500+ event, taking him into the world top 30. Photo: ATP
When João Fonseca hoisted aloft the Swiss Indoors trophy in Basel, Switzerland last Sunday, he broke a 24-year title hoodoo for Brazilian men’s tennis. Not since Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten in 2001 had a Brazilian player won an ATP 500+ singles tournament.
Indeed, it was the cherry on top of an astounding breakthrough season for 19-year-old Fonseca, which also included at least one victory in all four Grand Slams, an ATP 250 title in Buenos Aires and an all-important seeding for the Australian Open in January 2026.
While still not the finished article, Fonseca’s feats and performances have attracted huge compliments and even bigger comparisons. Breaking into the top 30 of the men’s rankings at 19 years and two months of age, Brazilian tennis stat-heads were quick to point out that…

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