Joao Fonseca's Australian Open campaign ended abruptly in the first round with a four-set loss to Eliot Spizzirri. The 19-year-old Brazilian, returning from a back injury, cited a lack of match rhythm as the key factor in his defeat. Despite dropping ranking points, Fonseca expressed no regrets and looks forward to rebuilding in South America.
Joao Fonseca, ranked No. 32 in the PIF ATP Rankings, faced an uphill battle in his opening match at the 2026 Australian Open on January 20. The 19-year-old Brazilian fell to American Eliot Spizzirri 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in a match that highlighted Fonseca's ongoing recovery from a back injury.
Fonseca had withdrawn from the Brisbane and Adelaide events earlier in the year due to the issue, which left him with nearly 15 days without intense practice. "I will say I needed more time," he said after the match. "Since the beginning of Brisbane, I wasn't playing, and then I came back, but slowly. Then I stopped again. So I went almost 15 days without hitting at 100 per cent, very intense."
Although his back is now "100 per cent," the lack of rhythm proved costly. Spizzirri impressed with 14 aces and an 81 percent success rate on first-serve points, while maintaining strong returns and mental composure. Fonseca praised his opponent's performance: "I think he served really well... He stayed really well mentally."
This marked the first time Fonseca lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam, a stark contrast to 2025 when he upset Andrey Rublev to reach the second round, earning 80 ranking points including qualifying efforts. Entering directly this year as the 28th seed, his early exit nets just 10 points, resulting in a 70-point drop from 1,510 to 1,440. This shifts him from No. 32 to No. 33 in the live rankings.
Fonseca, who started 2026 ranked as high as No. 24, has slipped due to prior points dropping off. He has no regrets about competing: "I don't regret it at all... My back is 100 per cent. I'm healthy again. I just needed time." Looking ahead, he plans to defend his ATP 250 title in Buenos Aires and play the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro to regain sharpness.
The defeat provides valuable experience in handling five-set matches while not fully fit, and Fonseca remains confident: "I think this season is going to be great for me."
