Interactive Forum December 2025: Joao Fonseca: Forehand

[giancarlo]

Brazilian Joao Fonseca is only 19 years old and already turning heads with one of the most compelling forehands on tour. According to the ATP’s database, “Beyond the Numbers,” Fonseca’s average forehand speed is 81 mph (130 km/h), compared to the tour average of about 76 mph (122 km/h), and his spin rate is 3,019 rpm, significantly above the tour mean of approximately 2,844 rpm.

In October, Fonseca won an ATP 500 event in Basel, Switzerland, beating 18th-ranked Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 6-3, 6-4. This was a major milestone in Fonseca’s rise – his first ATP 500 title (and the second of his career). Fonseca’s ascended this year like a supernova – from a ranking of 145 in the world at the end of ’24 to a career-high ranking of 24 early November.

The Fonseca forehand is built on modern mechanics:

• large unit turn, aided by his left arm staying on the racket for -- a complete turn, reminiscent of Carlos Alcaraz

• strong leg drive

• making use of all stances

• fast racquet head acceleration, a follow-through release that generates penetrative ball flight.

Fonseca’s blend of pace and spin pushes his forehand into the same conversation as the weapons of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Fonseca’s ball quality — not just how hard he hits it, but how effectively he uses it — is already at elite levels. Once ’26 gets underway, we await his progress on point construction, mental management of big moments, and how he fares in week-in and week-out competition.

Your thoughts please.

[stotty]

Yet another bazooka forehand hits the tour. The place is awash with them. This one is that bit better than most perhaps because he gets so much spin and incredible pace...usually pace is sacrificed to spin. I love the wide base, deep turn, and the way he drives up into the ball. He has excellent footwork and clearing steps too. I think we are all hoping Mr Fonseca is going improve enough to eventually challenge Sinner and Alcaraz. Fingers crossed.