Joao Fonseca withdraws from next tournament ahead of Carlos Alcaraz showdown | Tennis | Sport

Joao Fonseca has withdrawn from the Next Gen ATP Finals due to injury. The 19-year-old is the reigning champion in Jeddah after beating Learner Tien in the showpiece match last year.

Fonseca is one of the best young players on the planet and has already climbed to No. 24 in the world following his early success on the court. The Brazilian teenager won the Argentina Open in February, before clinching the title at the Swiss Indoor last month. But he won’t be travelling to Saudi Arabia to defend his title.

The Next Gen ATP Finals are scheduled to start on Wednesday, December 17, with the final due to be played four days later.

But tournament chiefs confirmed on Wednesday: “Joao Fonseca has withdrawn from the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF as he continues to recover from an injury sustained at the end of the 2025 ATP Tour season.

“We wish Joao the best in his recovery and in his preparations for the 2026 ATP Tour season.”

Fonseca is due to appear at the Miami Invitational on Monday, December 8 to play an exhibition event. He is set to go head-to-head with six-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, with the duo also playing a mixed doubles match involving Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova.

But it is unknown at this stage whether Fonseca will still feature as that event takes place before the Next Gen ATP Finals.

Fonseca was lauded by Alcaraz ahead of the Miami Invitational as the Spaniard told O Globo: “He’s a special and incredible player. The power he has is impressive, his serve is very good, something that, for me, when I entered the Tour, was what I struggled with the most.

“Joao also has a brutal forehand. If I had to point out something to improve, it would be his mobility. Little by little he will evolve in that aspect and, for me, he continues to be a special player. In the end, it’s his first Tour on the circuit and I think he’s doing it very well.”

And Alcaraz added: “What Joao has done this year is truly impressive. Reaching the top 25 in his first year on the ATP is very impressive. Will he reach the top three? That will be huge for him, because it’s one thing to reach that position and another to maintain it.

“I can see Joao changing levels over the next two years. If he manages to make that leap, I believe he will have very important and beautiful things ahead of him, and we’ll see how he handles that pressure.”