Fonseca to take break from tennis

Joao Fonseca, a promising young talent on the ATP tour, has announced that he will take a break from tennis to recover physically and mentally. The 20-year-old Brazilian will miss the ATP 500 event in Tokyo, which is scheduled from September 30 to October 6, and the Shanghai Masters over the following fortnight. In a post on Instagram, Fonseca explained that 2026 has been a challenging year for him, with a series of injuries sidelining him from important tournaments.

He also mentioned struggling with abdominal pain earlier this year, which forced him to withdraw from the US Open. Despite these setbacks, Fonseca made a strong comeback during Brazil's 3-1 victory over Switzerland in the Davis Cup, defeating Dominic Stricker 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. He expressed that while it's common for athletes to face such challenges, he still feels frustrated by the need for a break.

Fonseca's previous issues included recurring back problems, which led to his early exit from the Australian Open. However, he has had some standout moments this season, including a victory over Novak Djokovic at the French Open and reaching the third round at Wimbledon.