Joao Fonseca is physically ‘100 percent’ ahead of Rio | ATP tour | Tennis

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Fonseca is ‘100 percent’ physically ahead of the title title in Rio

The Brazilian says he has fully recovered from a lower back injury at the start of the season
February 16, 2026

After a stop-start-opener to 2026, can Joao Fonseca boost his season in his hometown at the Rio Open presented by Claro?

The No. 38 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will appear as the third seed at this week’s clay-court ATP 500. It will be only the third tournament of the season for the 19-year-old, who only played at the Australian Open due to injury but now believes he is ready to make more headlines as one of Brazilian tennis’s leading lights.

“I feel good. Physically I’m already 100 percent,” Fonseca told ATP Media in Rio ahead of his first-round match against compatriot Thiago Monteiro. “At the beginning of the year I had problems with my lower back, but now I’m 100 percent and I feel great on the track again. Physically I’m good.”

After opening his 2026 season with a first-round loss to Eliot Spizzirri at the Australian Open, Fonseca immediately headed to South America to prepare for the ‘Golden Swing’. Although he also suffered an opening defeat last week when defending his title at the IEB+ Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, where he was defeated in three sets by former Top 20 star Alejandro Tabilo, Fonseca feels this was another important step in his tennis journey.

“It was quite an exciting match in Buenos Aires, against a very good player,” said the 19-year-old. “I think the opportunity to play a week where you are the defending champion was great. I think well of positive things.” 1771252748. It was my first time, and of course a bit more pressure, but I think I handled it pretty well. I think my opponent played pretty well. Things to work on of course, but I’m confident this week.”

Fonseca comes to Rio this year with a 13-11 tour-level record on clay, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, having competed in tournaments in both Europe and South America. He quickly identified a number of aspects of the ‘Golden Swing’ events that set them apart from their European equivalents.

“I think the most special thing is the weather [in Europe]”, Fonseca explained. “It’s warmer and more humid [here]and I think the fans are so big. They bring out a lot of the culture of Argentina and Brazil, maybe because of the football, it’s huge.

“They cheer a lot. Sometimes it’s too much! But I think it’s a great environment and that’s the most important thing [about South America]. The courts are quite comparable. Buenos Aires is more like [the European] and here the ball moves a little slower, but it is also good.”