A field installed inside LoanDepot Park, the stadium which houses the Miami Marlins, a Major League Baseball franchise, was the scene of the first clash between the Brazilian João Fonseca and the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, this Monday (8).
Valid for the “Miami Invitation”, an exhibition event taken seriously by tennis players, icons of the new generation of sport, the duel ended with a victory for the world number 1 over the best Brazilian in the ATP ranking currently, in 24th place. Alcaraz won by 2 sets to 1, with shares of 7/5, 2/6 and 10/8 in the ten-point super tie-break, the format defined for the confrontation – the Rio native then led 5-0 before suffering defeat.
After the match, the Brazilian congratulated his opponent and highlighted the experience he had against him. “I almost made it, guys. The guy is good, the guy is very good. It’s a pleasure to be here, it’s a pleasure to play against Carlos. And to play mixed doubles too. It’s a pleasure to be here and I’m very, very grateful to Carlos,” he said.
Participation in the exhibition tournament is part of the preseason for Fonseca, who returned to training in late November after a vacation period. In 2025, he had the best year of his career, winning his most important titles: the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires and the ATP 500 in Basel.
Thanks to his performance, he climbed 121 places in the rankings and reached 24th place. Topping the list is Alcaraz, who has won eight titles this year, including Roland Garros and the US Open.
A dominant season saw the Spaniard finish ahead of Italian Jannik Sinner, his main rival on tennis’ biggest stages.
João Fonseca’s 2026 season will begin in Australia, where he will compete in the Australian Open. Before the Grand Slam, the Brazilian will participate in two tournaments in the country: the ATP 250 in Brisbane, starting on December 29, and the ATP 250 in Adelaide, between January 6 and 11.
About The Author
