:focal(243x74:245x72)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2026/11/09/image-f92cacea-0bb9-4f5d-b8b8-3a8d6535f9b8-85-2560-1440.jpeg "Stan Wawrinka Tips Joao Fonseca to Rival Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz")
Stan Wawrinka has identified Joao Fonseca as the emerging talent most capable of challenging the dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
The retired three-time Grand Slam champion, who concluded his professional career in October, described the 20-year-old Brazilian as a player with "something special: his power, his personality, and the way he knows how to enjoy the big stage," according to Eurosport.
While Fonseca currently sits at number 46 in the ATP rankings, his potential has drawn comparisons to the trajectory of established stars.
Wawrinka, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, noted that he sees reflections of his own career in the young Brazilian. "It’s not written anywhere that you have to be a champion at 20," Wawrinka said. "Sometimes it takes time to build self-confidence: that was the case for me too." Wawrinka’s own path to the top saw him win his first major titles at ages 28, 30, and 31.
He believes players who mature later often cultivate a more sustainable, aggressive style of play.
Fonseca’s ability to compete with the sport’s elite was highlighted by his performance at the French Open. The Brazilian defeated Novak Djokovic in the third round, mounting a comeback from a two-set deficit to win in five sets, Eurosport reported.
This victory marked a significant breakthrough, as he eventually advanced to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal on the Parisian clay. His 2025 season also saw him secure his first two ATP Tour titles, winning on the outdoor clay of the Argentina Open and the indoor hard courts of the Swiss Indoors in Basel.
Wawrinka’s endorsement places Fonseca in a competitive field of players aged 21 or younger, including Rafael Jódar, Jakub Mensik, and Learner Tien. However, the path to the top remains narrow given the established rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz. Sportbible reported that Sinner’s recent decision to hire Magnus Norman—Wawrinka’s former coach—could further complicate matters for challengers.
While Wawrinka backs Fonseca to eventually rival the pair, the Brazilian must first overcome the physical setbacks that hampered his most recent season, specifically issues involving his abdominal muscles that forced an early end to his campaign.
Fonseca has yet to secure a win against either Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz, having lost his only previous encounter against each player, according to Eurosport.
Why does Wawrinka believe that players who mature later, like Fonseca, have an advantage in developing their game? Wawrinka argues that players who reach maturity later often develop a more sustainable, aggressive game, noting that he himself did not win his first Grand Slam title until age 28, Sportbible reported.
While industry observers and the tennis establishment listen closely when Wawrinka discusses the future, the tangible reality of Fonseca’s ascent remains incomplete. Despite his win over Djokovic in Paris and his two-title season, the Brazilian has yet to demonstrate the sustained consistency required to bridge the gap to the level of Sinner and Alcaraz.
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