Joao Fonseca finds the win he was looking for at Indian Wells to give a jolt to 2026 start

INDIAN WELLS, Calif.—Joao Fonseca just may have found the performance he was looking for to jumpstart his 2026 season.

Coming into the BNP Paribas Open, the 19-year-old’s first two months of the year were anything but the plans drawn up. A lower back injury that forced him out of his first two planned events of the year in Australia played its part in a quieter start than expected, as did losing his title defense opener in Buenos Aires.

With one victory in four contests to his name as March rolled around, the Brazilian arrived to the California desert eager to heat up on the singles court on the back of a memorable doubles triumph at his hometown event in Rio de Janeiro with Marcelo Melo.

Two matches in, he’s on his way to reasserting himself on tour after having one foot out the door in his second-round match with Karen Khachanov. Fonseca staved off a pair of match points, all while making the most of an atmosphere that felt like a home-court advantage to prevail, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4.

“Those are the victories we look for on tour. Saved match points, had ups and downs, got through and fought a lot,” he told Prakash Amritraj on Tennis Channel.

Khachanov’s two chances to close out the match came in the second-set tiebreaker at 6-4. Fonseca made a key return to help get back on serve and once the scoreboard was level, seized control of the encounter.

“The experience on tour is pretty important, to have it and understand how it is. The consistency is what changes the Top 50 from the Top 20, the consistency on matches and results. So that’s what I’m looking for,” he said.

“Now I’m feeling confidence again and feeling healthy. So very happy because of that. I think Joao from last year Indian Wells and Joao from now is much more mature.”

Lines to get a general admission seat into Stadium 3 to see Fonseca wrapped around multiple entrances. Groups of Joao super fans could be picked out of the packed stands watching Casper Ruud defeat Alexander Shevchenko, as they waited for their hero to follow suit.

The scene afterwards involved hundreds of spectators making a pathway from the stadium to the area where the players grab their golf cart rides back to the locker room.

“The crowd was crazy out there. It was amazing to see,” commented Fonseca.

“It’s just very good. I love their support. It’s not only Brazilians. There was also people from other countries shouting as well. I’m just very grateful for everyone being on court calling my name, shouting and supporting, even when I was down 6-4 in the tiebreak. For sure they helped me to win this match today.”

The world No. 35 will need more of that energy inside the biggest playground the Indian Wells Tennis Garden has to offer come Sunday night when he takes on Tommy Paul to close out Stadium 1 action. Paul won the pair's lone prior encounter at last year's Mutua Madrid Open.