SOUTH American young star Joao Fonseca further established himself as one to watch, winning the Next Gen ATP Finals title overnight. In what was the last of the 2024 events and separated by almost a month from the rest, the Brazilian 18-year-old overcame talented American Learner Tien, 2-4 4-3 4-0 4-2.

The Next Gen ATP Finals hosts the top eight ranked players 20-and-under in the world who do no qualify for the ATP Finals, with Fonseca overcoming some big names including much improved Frenchman Arthur Fils who came in as the top seed and favourite for the tournament in Jeddah.

In a different format to a regular tennis match, Next Gen ATP Finals play best-of-five sets but only have to win best-of-seven – aka four – games within a set. In the final, he came from a set down against Tien to win, and only dropped two games across the last two sets to become the second youngest title winner in tournament history.

Fonseca went through the tournament undefeated, with wins over Fils, Jakub Mensik and Tien, before defeating another Frenchman in Luca Van Assche in the semis, prior to the Brazilian’s second victory in the week over Tien.

It was a remarkable run from Fonseca who showed some incredible talent on clay earlier this year, but has not quite found the consistency he was after on the ATP Tour. However he had a memorable run at the Rio Open to the quarters earlier in 2024, defeating then seventh seeded Fils, as well as clay court specialist Cristian Garin at his home Rio de Janeiro event.

“I was really nervous before the match. I knew it was going to be so difficult,” Fonseca said post-match. “I played a final against Learner in juniors [at the 2023 US Open] and I know the way he can play. He is such a nice guy and a great player, so I knew it was going to be difficult, mentally and physically. But I got my way through.”

Fonseca got to meet former world number one now retired 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal during the tournament, with the Brazilian’s idol watching on as Fonseca took out the crown and capped off a nice end to his 2024 season. While still ranked 145th in the world, Fonseca rose 575 ranking spots up from 730 12 months earlier, and will look to build into it.

The Brazilian looked set to go two sets down but manoeuvred his way out of a tiebreak to secure the set, then stormed to victory with a commanding last two sets.

“Honestly, I don’t know how I did it in the second set,” Fonseca said. “I was just trying to keep my game strong on serve. I was not playing my best at the beginning, I was too nervous. But after the second set, I think the third set was another Joao. I was much more aggressive going for the shots and he got a little bit more tight. In the fourth set I just did my best and got the win.”

Fonseca joins rare company as just one of three Next Gen ATP Finals winners at 18 years of age. The other two? Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

The young gun will now have a break and set his sights on Australia where he will look to have a strong run at Melbourne Park next year.