Joao Fonseca meets ‘everyone’s idol’ Andre Agassi in Rio | ATP tour | Tennis

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Fonseca meets ‘everyone’s idol’ Agassi in Rio

19-year-old reunites with former world number 1 at ATP 500 event
February 21, 2026

A rising star met tennis royalty on Friday at the Rio Open presented by Claro, where Joao Fonseca shared a special moment with ATP No. 1 Club member Andre Agassi.

The 19-year-old Fonseca has quickly developed into one of the most exciting young players on the ATP Tour. Agassi, who spent 101 weeks at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, represents the gold standard of excellence that the Brazilian now strives for. Marcelo Melo, Fonseca’s doubles partner this week at the ATP 500 event, was also part of the meeting, with the pair riding into the semi-finals with a wave of home support.

Fonseca spent time with Agassi at last year’s Laver Cup, where the American served as Team World Captain and Fonseca made his debut in the team event. That week provided the teenager with a rare opportunity to learn from one of the game’s greatest competitors, immersing himself in advice and perspective from a player who thrived under the brightest lights.

“He was everyone’s idol,” Fonseca said of Agassi, smiling after Melo revealed the American had been his own inspiration growing up.

Fonseca’s title run at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, where he tore through the field to lift the trophy, cemented his status as one of the sport’s premier young talents. He then carried that momentum into 2025 with two tour-level trophies, reinforcing the belief that Brazil’s newest star is ready to compete on the biggest stages.

Agassi knows better than anyone what it takes to deal with rising expectations. An eight-time major champion and one of the most recognizable figures of his time, the American built a career marked by resilience, reinvention and sustained excellence at the top of the sport.