Young Brazilians Flock to Tennis After Fonseca's Rise

Tennis academies across Brazil can't keep up with demand as young players rush to follow in João Fonseca's footsteps.

At the São Paulo Tennis Federation academy, 13-year-old Henry Takahashi trains every day with dreams of going pro. His coach, Juninho Nascimento, has watched his waitlist grow longer each time Fonseca wins a match.

"Today we have no spots. There is a waiting list," Nascimento says.

Fonseca, just 19 years old and ranked No. 29 in the world, has become the face of Brazilian tennis as he prepares to compete at Roland Garros in Paris. With his aggressive playing style and natural charisma, the Rio de Janeiro native became the fifth Brazilian ever to break into the Top 25 rankings when he won ATP Tour titles in Buenos Aires and Basel last year.

The numbers tell an incredible story. Between 2024 and 2025, youth tournament registrations jumped 34% nationwide for players ages 12 to 18.

In São Paulo state alone, the growth has been exponential. The regional federation saw youth registrations quadruple between 2022 and 2025, reaching over 7,000 players.

"It's crazy! I joke with everyone: João Fonseca wins a match in the morning, and by the afternoon the number of members goes up," says Danilo Gaino, president of the São Paulo federation.

Henry studies high school online to make time for his packed training schedule. "I like how Fonseca behaves on the court, his shots... everything," he says shyly.

The influence runs deep. Young players are growing mustaches and beards to look like their hero, and many use his racket model.

The Ripple Effect

For 17-year-old Luis "Guto" Miguel, ranked second in the International Tennis Federation junior rankings, Fonseca is opening doors for an entire generation. "He is laying out a path to follow," Guto Miguel says after his own ATP Tour debut at the Latin American Open.

Brazil hasn't seen this level of tennis excitement since Gustavo Kuerten retired in 2008. The country's only world No. 1, Kuerten left big shoes to fill for nearly two decades.

Now young players like Bruno Rodrigues see a future they couldn't imagine before. Watching someone so young succeed changes everything, he says. "If he can do it, maybe one day we can too."

In a nation known for football, thousands of kids are discovering a different court.