Alcaraz Reflects on Victory Over Fonseca, Reminiscing His First Clash with Nadal
Alcaraz’s journey with Nadal began in Madrid back in 2021.
Date: March 21, 2026
Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz secured a win against Joao Fonseca during their debut Lexus ATP Head2Head encounter on Friday in Miami.
By ATP Staff
Although Joao Fonseca faced defeats against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner this month, the 19-year-old Brazilian’s recent tribulations may set the stage for greater achievements in his ATP career.
Fonseca battled fiercely but ultimately lost 6-4, 6-4 to Alcaraz at the Miami Open presented by Itau, following a narrow 7-6(6), 7-6(4) loss to Sinner in the Indian Wells fourth round. The young Brazilian showcased his powerful game against both top-ranked players, contributing significantly to two exciting ATP Masters 1000 contests.
While Alcaraz expressed satisfaction with his calmness under duress—successfully saving all three break points during the match—he acknowledged that the next encounter with Fonseca could be even more challenging. The Brazilian’s recent setbacks may lay the groundwork for his ascent in the PIF ATP Rankings.
“For him, competing against us is a valuable experience that will provide insights for improvement,” Alcaraz stated post-match. “He possesses incredible talent along with aspects to enhance, and I have no doubt he will. Playing back-to-back against the No. 1 and No. 2 players will be immensely beneficial for him.”
Reflecting on Fonseca’s steep learning curve amongst the sport’s elite, Alcaraz shared his initial experiences facing Rafael Nadal. Their first meeting occurred in Madrid in 2021, where Alcaraz felt the weight of facing a legend.
“I vividly remember my first match against Rafael Nadal, and how pivotal that experience was for me, despite the heavy defeat,” Alcaraz recalled, having lost 6-1, 6-2 on clay. One year later, however, he notched his first victory against Nadal during the same tournament, followed by triumphs over Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, culminating in becoming the youngest year-end World No. 1 at 19.
Fonseca achieved a career-high ranking of No. 25 last November and currently sits at No. 39 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The lessons learned from his recent encounters with Alcaraz and Sinner may one day serve as a launchpad for his journey toward joining their ranks in the ATP No. 1 Club.
