Tennis player João Fonseca will make his debut this Friday, July 17th, at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) Rio, which takes place at the Maracanãzinho gym. Brazil’s top name in the world rankings will face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor and Australian Nick Kyrgios, with matches scheduled between 6pm and 10pm.

The event will be broadcast. This is the first time that the league, created by renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou, has been held in Rio de Janeiro. For the creator of the championship, Fonseca is a promise that will stand out on the courts in the coming years and represents a promising phase for Brazilian tennis.

Patrick Mouratoglou’s high expectations for João Fonseca

Patrick Mouratoglou expressed that the current moment is of great relevance for tennis in Brazil. He mentioned the popularity of Gustavo Kuerten and his contribution to the development of sport in the country. The coach highlighted the importance of having stars to inspire children and young people to start playing tennis, pointing out Fonseca as one of these talents.

Mouratoglou demonstrated strong confidence in the young tennis player’s potential. He stated that, although he cannot guarantee it, he firmly believes that João Fonseca has the capacity to win multiple Grand Slam titles. The coach described him as a top player, with remarkable qualities to perform at a high level, predicting that “he will be top 10, for sure. Probably even higher”. Mouratoglou also highlighted Fonseca’s great personality, a trait that, combined with his tennis talent, will further boost his growth, and that Victoria’s rise adds even more excitement to the scene.

Fonseca is not yet part of the top ten in the world, but has demonstrated a consistent upward trajectory in several tournaments. In 2026, he achieved significant achievements in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), including a victory over Novak Djokovic in the third round of Roland Garros, where his journey ended in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. Currently in 27th position globally, the Brazilian athlete arrives in Rio de Janeiro to compete in the UTS Rio, a tournament known for its different rules in relation to traditional tennis formats.

The tennis league arrives at Maracanãzinho for the first time in history. Brazil will be represented by João Fonseca and Guto Miguel, who occupies the first position in the world youth ranking. Both Brazilian athletes will participate in singles clashes, with Nick Kyrgios, former number 13 in the world, as his opponent in the tournament’s debut. In addition to these competitors, the championship designed by Mouratoglou will feature Francisco Cerúndolo, Cameron Norrie, Tallon Griekspoor, Brandon Nakashima and Corentin Moutet.

The UTS already held a previous stage this year, in April, in the city of Nîmes, France, where Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime became champion. After the event in Rio, the next stop on the circuit will be in Gothenburg, Sweden, on September 12th and 13th.

Full schedule of games for Friday, July 17

• Guto Miguel x Brandon Nakashima
• João Fonseca x Tallon Griekspoor
• Francisco Cerundolo x Cameron Norrie
• João Fonseca x Nick Kyrgios

Events scheduled for Saturday, July 18th, at UTS Rio

• 12pm – First classification
• 1pm – Semifinals
• 2pm – Semifinal
• 3pm – Second classification
• 4pm – Final