Teenage sensation Joao Fonseca marked his Laver Cup 2025 debut with an impressive 6-4, 6-3 victory over Italy’s Flavio Cobolli. The 19-year-old Brazilian relied on encouragement from Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter as he delivered Team World’s opening point after Europe captured the first two matches.
“We were actually joking about this because he told me, ‘I retired in 2006,’” Fonseca said after the match. “I was like, ‘I was born in 2006,’ and he was like, ‘Thanks, man. Thanks!’”
Agassi, now Team World’s coach, buried his face in his jacket in mock embarrassment, but he had every reason to celebrate Fonseca’s performance.
From Nervy Start to Confident Finish
The young Brazilian looked shaky early, falling behind 2-4 in the first set. Instead of fading, he turned the match around with four straight games, grabbing momentum and leaving Cobolli on the back foot. In the second set, Fonseca surged to 5-2 before confidently closing out the contest.
“I think my team helped me a lot to stay positive during the match,” Fonseca explained. “I got an early break and was a little bit more nervous than usual. That’s normal. I started talking a little bit more with Andre and with the team. I was playing good in the beginning but still a little bit nervous, making mistakes. But after that, I got through, so I’m very happy with that.”
Breakthrough Season Gains More Momentum
Fonseca’s victory adds to what has already been a milestone 2025 season. The Rio de Janeiro native recently cracked the Top 50 rankings after advancing to the third round at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. His confidence and composure continue to grow alongside the passionate support of Brazilian fans who follow him worldwide.
“It’s amazing,” Fonseca shared. “I think it’s a lot of things coming from those legends that’s important to put in mind. There’s a lot of things that not only experience tells you, so I’m thankful a lot to [Andre] and to [Vice Captain] Pat [Rafter] for this week and helping me to have more experience.”
Crowd Support and Global Spotlight
Team World fans and the strong Brazilian contingent in the arena gave Joao Fonseca loud backing throughout his debut. Their presence fueled his energy on court and made the win even more memorable.
“It’s a pleasure being here in front of a lot of legends of our sport,” Fonseca said. “It’s an amazing stadium, amazing crowd. Thanks everyone that came to cheer. It really means a lot to play on this court, so I’m very happy.”
What Awaits on Day 1 of Laver Cup 2025
Friday’s action will close with a blockbuster doubles tie. World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz will pair with Jakub Mensik for Team Europe against Team World’s American duo of Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelsen. Michelsen earlier fell just short in singles against Mensik, losing in a deciding tiebreak.
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