Since his Next Gen title ATP Finalsthe phenomenon Joao Fonseca is unanimous in the world of Tennis. But between future top 10 or serious competitor for titles in Grand Slamopinions still differ slightly. The historic coach of Matteo Berrettini, Vincenzo Santopadrequestioned on the subject by All Sportseven sees the Brazilian nugget competing Jannik Sinner et Carlos Alcaraz. A prediction for the years to come, Fonseca is not yet ready in 2025 to compete with the new bosses of the ATP circuit and may have to wait two or three years depending on Santopadre.
Video – Jannik Sinner served one last time in 2024
“Fonseca is still a child”
Santopadreformer number 100 in the ATP rankings when he was a player, admires the qualities of Fonseca at only 18 years old: “He has talent as far as the eye can see and he’s growing fast. He has a bit of Jannik and a bit of Carlitos. But he's still a child. We see it in his eyes, we see it in certain reactions he has on the pitch. He has a good team, serious people. You have to give him time, he has to learn everything. If he makes the top thirty this year, he will be ready for the future. But I think we will have to wait two more years before we have this trio at the top.“On the side of Canberra Challenger, Fonseca is already taking valuable points which bring it closer to the top 100.
“The Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry will be at the center of the intrigue of 2025”
In 2025, it will not yet be the year of the constitution of the new big 3. But this is only a postponement according to Santopadre. In the meantime, it's rivalry Sinner-Alcaraz who should liven up the ATP circuit “This doesn't seem like a bad program to me. There is a healthy rivalry between the two. Friendly, but very serious. In the standings, Sinner is thousands of points ahead in the standings, but Alcaraz has beaten him three times in 2024. This looks like a promising poster for a big show. And then, you know, tennis is varied. There will be new entries, important returns. But the plot will be written by these two.” And apart from these three young nuggets, Santopadre predicted a bright future for a few other young wolves. Among which Arthur Son : “I really like Arthur Son. He is growing too. It's a 2004, let's not forget. He has leg strength, agility and blazing arm speed. Holger Rune, I don't believe it. He has tennis, his head I don't know. I like Jack Draper, who has regained his level from two years ago.“It remains to be seen whether these predictions will come true.
