Joao Fonseca talking to Carlos Alcaraz: ‘I need to face him with a mentality that I can win’ | ATP Tour
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Fonseca to Alcaraz: ‘I need to face him with the mentality that I can win’
The 19-year-old previews his first meeting with World No. 1 Alcaraz on Friday
March 20, 2026
ATP Tour
Joao Fonseca meets World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz for the first time on Friday in Miami.
Written by Jerome Coombe
Joao Fonseca continues to dominate the entire ATP Tour, but few challenges come bigger than facing the top two players in the PIF ATP Rankings in consecutive weeks.
The 19-year-old Brazilian is now preparing for another chance to make a statement when he meets World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the Miami Open presented by Iau on Friday. The clash comes nine days after Fonseca played an eye-catching match against Jannik Sinner in Indian Wells, where he pushed the champion to a two-set break.
Alcaraz, who dropped one game in 2026 and continues to set the pace at the top of the Tour, represents another strong test. Yet Fonseca approaches this season with the same fearless mindset that has underpinned his rapid rise.
“I will face this match as an opportunity,” Fonseca told ATP Media. “Yes, facing Jannik in the last tournament and now Alcaraz has improved a lot for me as a player and trying to find problems. There will be problems… You can play perfect, but these guys are so good that they can beat you.
“I think I played a great match against Jannik and I had chances. Yes, I’m happy with myself because I gave it my all. I played a good match. But I focused on what I needed to do to win this match or win the first set, or what I can do to win the second set. Compared to those guys, there are always small details.”
Those impressive margins were evident in the California desert, where Fonseca held three points in the opening set against Sinner but was unable to convert, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Still, Fonseca left Indian Wells with the belief that he can not only compete with the best, but also trouble them.
Watch Highlights of Sinner vs. Fonseca Indian Wells:
Alcaraz will want more. With his intensity and all-court intelligence, the Spaniard has become a bench player on the Tour, although recent performances – including Daniil Medvedev’s victory over him in Indian Wells – have shown that bold, aggressive tennis can bring rewards.
“I will face Carlos the same way,” said Fonseca, comparing the way he handled it before his clash with Sinner. “I try to deal with him as a Top 5 guy, playing good tennis and I try to respect him, but I can’t respect him on the court.
“I need to face him with the mindset that I can win. I think that’s the mindset and trying to be brave, enjoy the moment, enjoy learning and enjoy the court process. But of course, I want to win.”
For Fonseca, the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals champion, the opportunity in Miami is another chance to test his game against the sport’s elite. In his first Lexus ATP Head2Head against Alcaraz, those “small details” will once again prove decisive.
