Joao Fonseca has long been considered one of the natural contenders to challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Fonseca’s forehand has often been compared with Alcaraz’s, in particular, and it’s one of the Brazilian’s biggest weapons.
The teenager has been impressive in Monte-Carlo by reaching his first quarter-final at the Masters tournament.
Fonseca named some of the best forehands on the ATP Tour and now the world number one has responded.
Carlos Alcaraz responds to Joao Fonseca’s claim about his forehand
Fonseca named Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alcaraz, Matteo Berrettini, and himself as the best forehands on the ATP Tour.
In response, Alcaraz took exception with a few names and added a few other big hitters to a list of his own.
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“That’s tricky, but at the same time it’s a really good list. A pretty good list from João! I don’t know… I could put Andrey Rublev somewhere in the list.
“Right now, I could change Tsitsipas for Felix Auger, for example. I just love Felix Auger’s forehand. And the rest is pretty good. Berrettini is on it, right? He’s fourth?”
Alcaraz also conceded that he sees his forehand as powerful as any other’s on the ATP Tour.
“So the list is pretty full. I would say Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger should be around there. But yeah… I could feel myself at first place!”
Alcaraz and Fonseca have played each other just once on the ATP Tour, with the Spaniard beating the teenager recently at the Miami Open.
Joao Fonseca tipped to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Fonseca comprehensively defeated Berrettini to earn his place in the Monte-Carlo Masters quarter-finals.
His Italian opponent got an up-close view at the teenager many are predicting to reach the top of the rankings and he is inclined to agree with the predictions.
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Speaking in his Monte-Carlo press conference, Berrettini said: “In my opinion, he has all the potential to be one.
“Now, whether he’s going to win 20 Grand Slams, 10 Grand Slams, I don’t know. But he’s a player who, fundamentally, has no weak points.
“He hits the ball really well, he moves well, he serves well, he fights, he has clear potential to really be the ‘third guy’.”
Fonseca is yet to beat either Sinner or Alcaraz, having played them both during the Sunshine Double.
