The debate over tennis’s GOAT will never really go away, will it? Once, it was all about legends like John McEnroe and Andre Agassi. Then came the Big Three—Federer, Nadal, Djokovic. Now, as time forces some to retire, the big question looms: who’s next? Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have made their cases. You’d expect Novak Djokovic to be the man to keep them in check. But now, there’s another name in the mix who’s got everyone buzzing!
Former pro Luc Seville isn’t shy about the new face in the spotlight. Talking about Joao Fonseca, he said in a podcast, “Everyone sees in João Fonseca a tennis player who will one day threaten Sinner and Alcaraz.” And the 18-year-old isn’t just talk—he’s delivered. Fonseca’s career-high ranking is already No. 48, and he captured his first ATP title in Buenos Aires. If there were any doubts about his potential, he’s put them to rest.
But Joao’s surge puts a bit of heat on the Serbian icon. Seville spelled it out: “Until now, it seemed that Novak Djokovic had the best chance of competing with them for the biggest trophies, but it is obvious that the 24-time Grand Slam champion, at the age of 38, is slowly approaching the end of his career.” Is this really the beginning of a new era?
Wimbledon 2025 Day 8, Alex de Minaur v Novak Djokovic Wimbledon Championships 2025 Day 8, 07/07/25 Gentlemens Singles – Round of 16 Centre Court Alex de Minaur v Novak Djokovic Novak Djokovic in action. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxSUIxONLY Copyright: xMarcxAspland/ThexTimesx NINTCHDBPICT001008237701
On one side, Djokovic remains a force—especially against Alcaraz. He’s beaten the Spaniard in five of their eight matches, including two huge wins at the Australian Open this year, even while battling a hamstring injury, and previously at the Paris Olympics. But Sinner? That’s a different story. Novak hasn’t solved the Italian puzzle in their last five matches since 2023.
This year alone, Sinner dispatched Djokovic in the semifinals of both the French Open and Wimbledon—now leading their head-to-head 6-4. Novak Djokovic has even noted that against Sinner, “playing in five sets, especially this year, has become physically very difficult for him.” Which prompts Seville to believe that “At this moment, they [Sinner and Alcaraz] are light years ahead of the others. I think everyone expects Fonseca to challenge them in about two years.”
And what about a Djokovic-Fonseca showdown? That hasn’t happened just yet. Still, Novak certainly notices the teenager’s rise. He offered high praise during the Miami Open: “He’s been [the] talk of the Tour in the last several months. I mean, deservedly so,” Djokovic remarked after his third-round win over Camilo Ugo Carabelli. “He’s a very good tennis player. I mean, so young. Just incredible firepower from both ends of the baseline, serve [as well]. He’s a very complete player.” That’s not faint praise from a legend!
Fonseca’s got the results to back up the excitement. At the 2025 Australian Open, he beat Andrey Rublev, then qualified for his first Grand Slam main draw and made the second round. He followed that with third-round runs at the French Open and Wimbledon. For a teenager, that’s some serious momentum. He’s still got plenty of ground to cover, but Fonseca isn’t hiding his ambition—he’s already announced he can’t wait to test himself against Nole on the court.
Fonseca reveals his wish to compete against Novak Djokovic
On April 22, during the Madrid Open, Joao opened up about his dream matchup via Roland-Garros. The young Brazilian shared, “When you start these big tournaments, the Grand Slams, the qualifiers, I always say to my coach, ‘If I go to the main draw, I want to play Djokovic,’ because it’s probably one of the last times that opportunity will arise. I hope I can face him,” he confessed.
When asked about the chance of dueling Novak Djokovic, Fonseca didn’t hold back his admiration or his eagerness for the challenge. He said, “I would love to challenge him in the first or second round. I would try to play my best tennis, the result will not matter then, but I would just enjoy myself.” No fear here—just pure excitement. It’s refreshing, especially when so many rookies worry about drawing a titan like Djokovic.
With 24 Grand Slam trophies, a whopping 100 singles titles, and a mind-boggling 40 ATP Masters 1000s, not to mention the historic 428 weeks as world No. 1, Novak Djokovic casts a long shadow. But for Fonseca, that’s where the fun begins.
And here’s the best part: Fonseca is not just in it for the wins—he thrives on the spotlight. “I like playing against the top seeds, I like the challenge and I play without pressure. I also like to exchange and interact with the public, it’s an experience I want to live here (in Paris). Some players will want to play the easier opponents first, but I prefer to play against the most iconic ones.”
Now, with Wimbledon over and the hard-court swing rolling in, could we see a Fonseca and Novak Djokovic showdown soon? Let us know what you think in the comments!
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