In a surprising turn of events, Joao Fonseca has chosen to withdraw from the Adelaide tournament, following in the footsteps of renowned player Novak Djokovic. This decision comes as the young Brazilian has yet to step onto the court for any matches in 2026, primarily due to ongoing lower back problems that have persisted since his training sessions in Brisbane.
Having already opted out of the first week of the season, the 19-year-old Fonseca has now joined Djokovic on the sidelines as he prepares for what many hope will be a stellar comeback at the upcoming Australian Open, which kicks off in just eight days.
Despite feeling some improvement while in Adelaide, Fonseca made the prudent choice to prioritize his health and rest, aiming for a complete recovery before taking on the challenges of the first Major of the year, where he made headlines just a year ago.
Fonseca concluded the 2025 season impressively, securing a spot in the top-25 rankings, which was bolstered by winning two ATP titles and performing well at all four Grand Slam tournaments. However, a setback occurred during his training with fellow player Tomas Machac, forcing him to forgo both Brisbane and Adelaide in hopes of being in peak condition for the Australian Open.
Last season, Fonseca's journey began triumphantly with a title at the Canberra Challenger, followed by an impressive qualification run at the Australian Open. He then faced Andrey Rublev in his first major match, where he achieved a remarkable victory that showcased his potential.
Notably, the young athlete claimed his first ATP title in Buenos Aires a few weeks later, marking him as one of the youngest champions on the ATP Tour since 1990. Like many players in their rookie season, he experienced both triumphs and challenges but gained invaluable experience that he hopes to leverage in 2026.
With aspirations to break into the top-15 this season, Fonseca believes that achieving this goal is within reach if he can maintain his health and deliver his best performance on the court. He capped off the previous season by winning the ATP 500 title in Basel and even participated in an exhibition match alongside Carlos Alcaraz in Miami in December.
As he races against time to recuperate ahead of the Melbourne tournament, we extend our best wishes to him.
"It’s unfortunate that I had to withdraw from the Adelaide tournament due to back pain. I’m focusing on recovering as quickly as possible so I can return to the court at full strength. I want to express my gratitude to all the fans for their support and messages. We will definitely come back stronger," Joao Fonseca expressed in a heartfelt statement.
