MIAMI, INVITATIONAL. By Emiliano Naftali
Before the official tennis season gets underway, Carlos Alcaraz showed exactly why he enters 2025 as the ATP World No. 1. At the Miami Tennis Invitational, the Spaniard delivered a masterclass against rising Brazilian star João Fonseca, edging him out in a high-intensity super tie-break at LoanDepot Park with a 7-5, 2-6, 10-8 victory.
For Alcaraz, the exhibition capped off a remarkable start to 2025, a year in which he already added the Brisbane International title and reclaimed the No. 1 ranking after a dominant run during the South American swing. His aggressive playstyle and mental poise have set the tone for what many expect to be another milestone season.
For Fonseca, the performance further confirmed why he is considered one of the most exciting prospects on the tour. The 19-year-old Brazilian has climbed rapidly inside the Top 50 and captured his first ATP title in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year, becoming the youngest Brazilian champion in the Open Era. His bold shot-making and fearless attitude once again earned him admiration from fans in Miami.
Amanda Anisimova also enjoyed a memorable homecoming of sorts, spending two consecutive nights playing in front of familiar faces. Although born in New Jersey, she grew up in Miami — and still calls it home, owning a luxurious $1-million penthouse in Miami Beach. As a result, she didn’t even need a hotel during her Florida stay.
Anisimova finally broke her losing streak against Jessica Pegula, winning 6-2, 7-5, although she later fell in mixed doubles alongside João Fonseca in a ten-point super tie-break. Relieved and smiling, she joked on court afterward:
“I feel like it took me ten years to finally beat Jess, so it’s really nice to be here today. Haha, just kidding — but yes, Jess is an incredible player, and it’s always a tough match even in exhibitions. We played last night in Jersey, not sure if you got to see it, and today we had another great match, so it’s always a lot of fun.”
Fonseca started strongly, playing aggressively and quickly winning over the crowd at the Miami Marlins’ ballpark. Despite the strong Brazilian presence in the stands, the 19-year-old’s energy and confidence attracted support from fans of all backgrounds as he challenged the world’s top player point for point.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, produced a few uncharacteristic errors at the net and on backhand exchanges — rare sights for the Spaniard — which Fonseca capitalized on with his trademark power. At 4-4 in the opening set, Fonseca even delivered such a heavy serve that it snapped the center strap of the net, prompting laughter and surprise from Alcaraz himself.
Before the match, Alcaraz also enjoyed a light-hearted hit with Brazilian football legend Ronaldo. As a thank-you, the former striker gifted the world No. 1 a signed Brazil national team jersey with the iconic No. 9. The exhibition drew a star-studded audience as well, including Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets — fresh MLS champions with Inter Miami, who were recently handed the trophy by Alcaraz during the league’s final.
Photos by Gabriel Matteazzi