Brazilian tennis star Fonseca steps back from Asian swing after injury struggles

Sao Paulo, September 22 — Brazilian tennis player Joao Fonseca has announced that he will skip the Asian swing to focus on his physical and mental recovery following a challenging year marked by injuries and setbacks. The 20-year-old, considered one of the most promising talents on the ATP tour, shared on Instagram that "2026 has been a very challenging year for me."

In addition to the usual demands of the profession, a series of injuries had forced him out of important tournaments and prevented him from performing at his best. After missing the US Open due to abdominal pain, Fonseca made his return to competitive play during Brazil's Davis Cup victory over Switzerland in Rio de Janeiro. He defeated Dominic Stricker 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in Rio.

The world number 28 acknowledged the frustration of having to take a break, emphasizing that it is a common part of an athlete's career, but still stressed the necessity of this time off. Fonseca will miss the ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo, scheduled from September 30 to October 6, as well as the Shanghai Masters occurring two weeks later.

Earlier this year, the South American athlete battled recurring back issues, which ultimately led to his early exit in the first round of the Australian Open. Despite these challenges, Fonseca has had notable achievements this season, including a third-round victory over Novak Djokovic at the French Open and reaching the third round at Wimbledon.