Joao Fonseca beats Learner Tien to win Next Gen ATP Finals

Joao Fonseca won the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals title on Sunday, beating Learner Tien in the championship match of the under-21 event in Jeddah.

Having entered the decider as the favourite with most tennis betting sites, the Brazilian came back from a set and set point down to win 2-4, 4-3(8), 4-0, 4-2.

“I was really nervous before the match,” Fonseca said in his victory speech.

“I knew it was going to be so difficult.

“I played a final against Learner in juniors at the 2023 US Open and I know the way he can play.

“He is such a nice guy and a great player, so I knew it was going to be difficult, mentally and physically.

“But I got my way through.”

Fonseca served powerfully across the one-hour, 27-minute match, landing eight aces and winning 83% of first-serve points.

With his victory over Tien, he wins a record US$526,480 and follows in the footsteps of several top-five players who have also won the Next Gen ATP Finals.

Stefanos Tsitsipas (2018), Jannik Sinner (2019) and Carlos Alcaraz (2021) all prevailed their respective editions of the tournament before going on to have significant success on the ATP Tour.

Fonseca, ranked No.145 in the world, will now seek to crack the top 100 in 2025.

“I need to believe when I go to a tournament that I can win,” he said.

“But now I have won it I am thinking, ‘Wow, I made it’. I am very proud of myself.”

Tennis bookmakers have Fonseca at long odds of +15000 to win next year’s first Grand Slam, with main draw at the 2025 Australian Open set to commence on January 12.

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