club one
Fonseca meets ‘everyone’s idol’ Agassi in Rio
19-year-old reunites with former world No. 1 at ATP 500 event
February 21, 2026
Fotojump / Rio Open
Former world number one Andre Agassi meets Joao Fonseca at the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro on Friday.
Jerome Coombe
A rising star met tennis royalty on Friday at the Rio Open hosted by Claro, as Joao Fonseca shared a special moment with ATP No. 1 club member Andre Agassi.
Fonseca, 19, has quickly become one of the most exciting young players on the ATP Tour. Agassi has spent 101 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, representing the gold standard of excellence to which the Brazilian now aspires. Fonseca’s doubles partner at this week’s ATP 500 event, Marcelo Melo, also attended the gathering, with the pair reaching the semi-finals with home support.
Fonseca spent time with Agassi at last year’s Laver Cup, where the American captained the world team and Fonseca made his debut in the team event. That week provided the teen with a rare opportunity to learn from a great competitor, to gain advice and perspective from a player who thrived under the brightest lights.
“He was everybody’s idol,” Fonseca said of Agassi, smiling after Melo revealed the American was his inspiration growing up.
Fonseca swept the field to lift the trophy at the 2024 Next Generation ATP Finals in Jeddah, cementing his status as one of the sport’s brightest young talents. He then carried that momentum into 2025, winning two Tour-level trophies, reinforcing the belief that the Brazilian starlet is ready to compete on the biggest stage.
Agassi knows better than most how to deal with rising expectations. An eight-time Grand Slam champion and one of the most recognizable figures of his era, the American built a career characterized by tenacity, reinvention and sustained excellence at the pinnacle of the sport.
