Wimbledon 2025: João Fonseca handles nerves amid partisan crowd for debut victory against Jacob Fearnley

João Fonseca is accustomed to feeling the love from the crowd – until he made his debut at Wimbledon 2025.

The No.1 Court faithful were hardly rooting against him, instead fervently behind their British home hope in Jacob Fearnley. It did not faze 18-year-old Fonseca, who marked his first match at the Championships 2025 with a 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 triumph.

Hailing from Rio de Janeiro, the young tennis sensation brings out the Brazilian fans in their numbers when he plays. On Monday (30 June), the opening day of this year’s grass Grand Slam, only pockets of green and gold could be spotted in the stands.

“The crowd is normally on my side,” Fonseca said to Olympics.com in his post-match press conference. “But today, I also thanked the British crowd after the match, they respected the match… [I heard] some voices in Portuguese. I felt really good during the match. Didn't disturb me at all.”

The fans were treated to an enticing battle between two of the draw’s unseeded players, as Fonseca showed maturity beyond his years to close it out in straight sets. Next up is a second-round match against Jenson Brooksby or Tallon Griekspoor.

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