MELBOURNE: It was a matter of when, not if, for Joao Fonseca.
The 18-year-old Brazilian had been generating steady buzz for his prodigious abilities but it appeared a significant speed bump had been put in his way at last week's Australian Open draw.
Fonseca, the world No.112, was handed a match-up with ninth seed Andrey Rublev, who had just bravely revealed the extent of his mental health struggles and was hoping to start 2025 in style.
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No problem for Fonseca, who dispatched the Russian 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 with an all-court game and eyepopping ease on Tuesday night.
The cat is out of the bag.
"Oh my gosh, we've got a new star," Slovakian great Daniela Hantuchova gushed on Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily on Wednesday.
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Joao Fonseca of Brazil celebrates winning match point against Andrey Rublev. Getty
"This was for me so far the most exciting moment of the tournament."
The victory over 10 time major quarter-finalist Rublev, who is 27, stretched Fonseca's winning run to 14 matches.
That includes taking the title last month in Saudi Arabia at the Next Gen ATP Finals for top players who are under 21, and another trophy this month at a lower tier Challenger tournament in Canberra.
Joao Fonseca of Brazil celebrates a point against Andrey Rublev. Getty
Tennis tragics have been keeping tabs on the 2023 US Open junior boys' champion for some time.
"In the tennis world, everyone knows who this guy is," Aussie great Sam Stosur told Nine's Today.
"He's not going to be an unknown for too much longer."
A big serve, booming groundstrokes and cool demeanour.
All of those qualities, and more, were on display against Rublev on Margaret Court Arena, the second biggest stage in Melbourne.
"It was crazy because a typical first round match, a teenager, he's two sets to love up, and then the (third set) tiebreak comes," Hantuchova said.
"What does he do? He goes for it bigger. I mean, the intensity and the way he hits his shots, but with so much safety.
"I never felt like 'OK, he is actually going to lose this and it's going to go to the fourth set.' I felt so confident and believed in Fonseca from the beginning until the end."
Fonseca only made it into the bracket at Melbourne Park by winning three matches in qualifying rounds last week.
Joao Fonseca of Brazil celebrates a point against Andrey Rublev. Getty
He got to match point with a backhand winner that he celebrated by raising his right index finger in a 'No.1' gesture and nodding his head.
Then he ended it with a down the line forehand, spreading his arms wide and tossing his head back.
"It's the way Fonseca won that match," Hantuchova said.
Andrey Rublev throws his racquet during the third set tiebreak against Joao Fonseca. Hannah Peters via Getty Images
"It's not like Rublev was playing bad tennis, but for an 18-year-old to have that bravery to just go for his shots, never holding back, playing first time on a such a big court – he could have all the reasons in the world to get tight at some point. He never did.
"And his technique, his physicality, I am so, so excited about what's to come for him."
Hitting serves at up to 214km/h, Fonseca delivered 14 aces and had just one double fault while saving five of the six break points he faced.
He accumulated 51 total winners, 18 more than Rublev, a quarter-finalist in Melbourne in three of the last four years and Fonseca's first opponent ranked higher than No.20.
"I mean, not bad," Fonseca said in his on court interview on Nine.
That drew a smile from him and supportive laughter from the stands, where there were plenty of fans sporting his home country's flag.
"I just enjoyed every moment in this court, this amazing court," he said.
"My first time playing in a huge stadium. I was just focusing on my game, trying to put no pressure on myself, playing against a top 10 guy
He'll next face 55th ranked Lorenzo Sonego, who got past three time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka in four sets earlier on Tuesday.
Asked the key to his strong play in the tiebreakers against the far more experienced Rublev, Fonseca said he tries to employ "all the intensity in the important points," "go for the shots" and show "courage."
He also cited 20 time major champion Roger Federer as an inspiration.
"Like Roger says: 'talent is not enough.' So a lot of hard work. Just me and my team knows that," Fonseca said. – with AP
