Often cited as a player who can potentially challenge the pair currently dominating men’s tennis, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Joao Fonseca now gets his first crack at either of them. 

The 19-year-old set up a meeting with Sinner on Tuesday in Tennis Paradise after he beat Tommy Paul 6-2, 6-3 with yet more of the fervent Brazilian fans behind him under the lights at Stadium 1. 

If “people think that I can be good stuff, that I can play some good tennis, that I can be there playing with Alcaraz and Sinner, then I try to bring (it) in a positive way, not as a pressure but as a privilege,” Fonseca said. “People are saying this, so I have the game, the level. 

“So let’s keep working and then try to do the best I can to achieve it.” 

Does he think he can get there? 

“I think I have the level,” he said. “I’m playing really good. So, I think I can get there. It needs time. There is a lot to improve, but I'm thinking I'm (on) the right path.”

He has frequently watched the duo and is looking forward to seeing where his game stands against Sinner, the four-time Grand Slam champ. 

“Both are in another level,” said Fonseca. “Right now, they're playing such amazing tennis. They're almost winning every tournament.

“It's just a pleasure. It's a really big thing to play against those guys. I'm gonna enjoy playing out there. I'm gonna try, of course, to win.”

He spoke with reporters in the main interview room, a common scenario for the Rio native despite never being ranked inside the Top 20. 

The interest in Fonseca mirrors that of the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala, 20, who also remains in contention in Indian Wells after earlier beating Coco Gauff at Stadium 1 via a retirement. 

The chilled, off court, Fonseca already counts 1.2 million followers on Instagram. Everywhere he plays, his supporters — many decked out in Brazilian soccer jerseys — show up early and line up for autographs. 

“I love the support from the fans,” Fonseca said. “I love children and kids coming by, asking for autographs, asking for photos. Just super nice, so I just try to act in the normal way and in a positive way.”

Besides, he added, “I need to get used to this, where I want to be, Top 1, Top 5 in the world, win Grand Slams, this is going to be more usual.”

For now, he reached the fourth round at a Masters 1000 for the first time, topping Paul in his cleanest performance of the tournament so far. 

His recent back injury appears to be behind him. 

Paul might not be in peak condition — still finding his way following several injuries in 2025 — but Fonseca’s baseline power took it away from the former No. 8 from North Carolina.

Among his highlights, Fonseca capped a 19-shot rally with an angled drop shot to start the second set and broke for 5-3 in the second with a rasping forehand passing shot down the line. 

He controlled the baseline, tallying 32 baseline points to Paul’s 12. 

In the previous round against Karen Khachanov in the day session, Fonseca needed to save a pair of match points in the second-set tiebreak. 

“I'm just very happy the way that I played today,” said Fonseca.