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Joao Fonseca captured the biggest doubles title of his career on Sunday after winning the Rio Open final alongside Marcelo Melo.

Fonseca and Melo, aged 19 and 42, defeated Robin Haase and Constantin Frantzen in Sunday’s final, 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.

Fonseca also had a big opportunity to win the Rio Open singles title after winning his first match, as top seed Francisco Cerundolo had retired from the event.

Joao Fonseca will be the man to unsettle Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s duopoly over men’s tennis – Prove us wrong!

dhanushnaidu0411

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I think maybe Jakub Mensik too has a proper chance

fy52

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Michael Chang had won a slam title at age 17. Younger than Becker.

george.patten

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I think he's a good few years away yet. But I can definitely see him winning a Slam at some point...

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However, he lost in the quarter-finals to Ignacio Buse.

Fonseca recovered quickly to continue his doubles campaign with Melo, and he deserves great credit for doing so.

Joao Fonseca encapsulates the spirit of tennis

With much of the ATP Tour schedule currently taking place on hard courts, it would have been easy for Joao Fonseca to forgo the clay-court event in Rio and focus on ATP events in the Middle East.

However, the youngster stayed true to his roots, returning home to Brazil to compete in front of his ardent supporters.

Fonseca deserves great credit: he has embodied the spirit of tennis by competing in Brazil and has demonstrated himself to be an individual who is willing to give his all for his fans.

This was evident during Fonseca’s post-match speech after securing the doubles title alongside Melo. Fonseca was visibly emotional, overwhelmed by the occasion and what he had achieved.

Fonseca did not have to compete in the doubles event, as his singles career is a far more important journey for him to undertake.

However, he took the gamble – perhaps sacrificing his energy levels during the singles tournament – and gave his all for the Brazilian fans who came to offer their support.

Fonseca has demonstrated incredible maturity for a player who is only 19 years old, and his natural ability to capture the hearts of those who cheer for him should be applauded.

Fonseca reacts to winning the Rio Open doubles title

In a post on Instagram, Fonseca offered his thoughts on winning the Rio Open doubles title.

“Final osmosis Marcelo Melo,” Fonseca began.

If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?

feliciano.lim57

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Once you toss the Ball during serve, it should be hit. Single toss only. No more 2nd or 3rd toss

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stephen.clarke2000

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If, during play after the serve, the ball touches the net, the point should be rep[ayed.

afletcheranderson

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...A let is a first serve if it's on your first serve.

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“What energy! Sensational to be able to share the court with such a special guy like Marcelo and win a title at home, with my family and friends present.

“Thank you all for your support and to my team for their commitment.”

Following his title win in Rio, Fonseca has jumped to world number 160 in doubles. He has fallen 14 places in singles to world number 38 following his loss to Ignacio Buse in Rio.

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Carlos Alcaraz secured his 26th ATP title after defeating Arthur Fils in a one-sided Qatar Open final.

Alcaraz wasted little time imposing his will on the contest, eventually defeating Fils 6-2, 6-1 in just 50 minutes.

Alcaraz has now won the same number of ATP 500 titles as Andy Murray – a two-time Wimbledon champion.

The Spaniard’s performance was so impressive that it prompted Fils to state that he lacks ‘almost everything’ to be able to compete with Alcaraz.

Which member of the ‘Big Three’ is Carlos Alcaraz most similar to? Let us know why below👇

beresbailey69

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He has the best things about the big 3, shots and angles like Nolè, Federer finesse, Nadals work rate and shot selections. He's phenomenal to watch, like the Ronaldinho of tennis

rockyoda

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It does not matter and shouldn't. Each one is an individual.

googlyrezshaheen99

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Federer

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Alcaraz’s performance was impressive in more ways than one, as he equalled a striking Rafael Nadal accomplishment from 2019.

Carlos Alcaraz lost only three games to Arthur Fils in the Qatar Open final

As per OptaAce, Carlos Alcaraz lost the fewest games in an ATP 500 or above completed final on hard court since Rafael Nadal at the 2019 Canadian Open.

Nadal, seeded first at the event, defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-0 to win his fifth Canadian Open title.

During his post-match press conference, Medvedev described Nadal’s performance as ‘incredible.’

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When asked if he felt the pressure of playing a member of the big three, Medvedev replied: “Actually not that much because I played Roger two times, Novak four times. I knew how it’s going to be. I was kind of ready for it.

“Then didn’t manage to probably show my best tennis, but at the same time Rafa was I think incredible today.

“I need to see the match on the TV to say for sure, but congrats to him. I need to do better next time.”

Alcaraz has matched Nadal’s feat seven years later, and he could go on to match many more if he continues to perform at this level for the next decade.

This is far from the first time Alcaraz has rivalled a statistic led by Nadal. After all, Alcaraz became the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam in men’s singles after winning the 2026 Australian Open, usurping Nadal’s previously held record.

What next for Alcaraz?

Unsurprisingly, Alcaraz is not set to compete in any ATP Tour events this week after winning the Qatar Open.

Alcaraz has chosen to forgo the Dubai Tennis Championships and Acapulco Open to properly prepare for the Indian Wells Masters.

Alcaraz has played at the Indian Wells Masters five times during his career, winning the tournament in 2023 and 2024.

Carlos Alcaraz’s record at the Indian Wells Masters

Last year, Alcaraz was unable to win the title for a third consecutive year, losing to Jack Draper in the semi-finals: 1-6, 6-0, 4-6.

Draper went on to win the title in California, beating Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in the final.

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Serena Williams sparked rumours a potential comeback to the Tour when she re-entered the International Tennis Integrity Agency drug testing pool for the first time since 2022.

Williams quickly denied she was making a comeback following her re-entry in December last year.

However, in an interview with the Today Show last month, Williams did not rule out stepping back onto the court.

“I don’t know, I’m just going to see what happens,” Williams said.

If Serena Williams isn’t the greatest tennis player of all time, then who is and why?

davidcarr9772

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Golden Slam...? Steffi says hi

george.patten

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The greatest female player maybe, but I think Novak Djokovic has the edge overall

matthew.johns

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Alongside Novak Djokovic yes, a true great and even more impressive to achieve so much in both singles and doubles!

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Jon Wertheim, a well-respected journalist who covers the ATP and WTA Tour, has discussed what he has recently heard regarding Serena’s potential comeback.

Jon Wertheim says Serena Williams does not like the way her Wimbledon career ended

Serena’s potential comeback has been a hot topic of discussion since December, with Lindsay Davenport recently offering her thoughts on the matter.

Jon Wertheim has now provided an update on the situation, suggesting that any potential return will not happen at the Indian Wells Open.

Speaking on the Tennis Channel, Wertheim [pictured below] said: “I feel like everyone’s sort of playing around with this, and there’s a lot of speculation. I mean, this could be one of the stories of the year for 2026, depending on how this goes.

“So Serena. This we know. She’s back in the doping protocol. She’s eligible to play as of today. I had heard that Indian Wells is probably not on the docket – not having to do with the family history there – but it’s windy, it’s gritty, the court is below the surface. It’s just too many variables there.

“The Williams camp has been very tight-lipped, as they’re entitled to be. In some ways, this is sort of teasing and very much on brand with Serena. They’re sort of non-denial, denials. I’ve heard two names and I’m curious. I mean, you guys, everyone’s been whispering about this. I’m curious if you guys know more.

“I’ve heard two names bandied about. One of them is Martina Navratilova. Martina was roughly the same age when she made a return in her mid-40s. It was doubles only.

Serena Williams’ seven Wimbledon Women’s Singles titles

“She played doubles, she played mixed, she had some success, she won a major. But she was not getting out there against players half her age trying to win singles majors.

“The other name I have heard a lot is Harmony Tan. Why do I say that? Harmony Tan is the player who beat Serena Williams in her last match at Wimbledon. It was 7-6 in the third. It was the first round. Serena was not anywhere close to peak Serena.

“And I am told by multiple sources that has really stuck in Serena’s craw. That was not how she wanted to end her Wimbledon tenure as a seven-time champion.”

As Wertheim notes, Serena lost to Tan 5-7, 6-1, 6-7 at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.

Tan went on to reach the fourth round before losing to Amanda Anisimova.

Serena won seven Wimbledon titles during her career, the last being in 2016 when she defeated Angelique Kerber in the final.

Serena won her first Wimbledon title in 2002, defeating Venus Williams in the final.

“Maybe we are peaking toward the grass season, but right now it’s a lot of rumour,” Wertheim concluded.

“It doesn’t look like Indian Wells is going to be the site of the comeback, but otherwise, I think there are a lot of different options here. I love this.”

Andrea Petkovic says she would ‘bet her house’ on Serena making a comeback

Andrea Petkovic, the former world number nine, later revealed her confident stance on Serena’s potential comeback.

The German star [pictured below] said: “I have been in the doping protocols for 16 years. Nobody signs up for a 5am warning call. Not to pee in a cup in front of a person with you in the bathroom for doubles.

“I’m sorry. With all due respect to everybody who is playing doubles, nobody does that voluntarily.

So I bet my money and my house on Serena coming back and playing at least one match, and I think she has earned the right to do whatever she wants. If after one match she just decides it’s not for me, she can do whatever she wants.

“And if she decides, ‘oh, maybe I do have a shot here to go for something bigger’ – I’m thinking it springs to my mind—Lindsey Vonn and how she decided to, despite her ACL, a week later, race in the Winter Olympics. [It] didn’t go well, but the decision is what counts.

“These ‘GOATS,’ they have a different kind of mindset. And without them, we wouldn’t be where we are as a humanity. And so I’m saying more power to her. I hope she comes back.”