Teen qualifier Fonseca ‘wants more and more’ after Melbourne upset

MELBOURNE: Fearless 18-year-old qualifier Joao Fonseca declared he wants “more and more” after beating ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets on his Grand Slam debut on Tuesday in a major Australian Open shock.

Roared on in Melbourne by Brazilian fans decked out in yellow, the prodigious teenager appeared totally unfazed as he stunned the Russian 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 7-6 (7/5). Fonseca last month became the second-youngest champion of the NextGen ATP tournament since current world number one Jannik Sinner claimed the title, also aged 18, five years ago.

Fonseca won a second ATP Challenger Tour title in Canberra this month, then powered through qualifying at Melbourne Park to take his place in his maiden Grand Slam main draw. “I think when I arrived here my first goal was to qualify for the main draw,” said Fonseca, who is ranked 112 in the world and came into the first-round meeting with 27-year-old Rublev on a 13-match winning streak. “Of course, my expectations are bigger now. I want more and more. “I think that´s the mentality of the champion,” added Fonseca, who faces Italy´s Lorenzo Sonego next.