João Fonseca – Foto: Juarez Santos / Shutterstock.com
João Fonseca, ranked 43rd in the ATP, will face Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, world No. 84, in the first round of the Brussels ATP 250 in Belgium, starting October 13. The tournament, played on indoor hard courts, marks Fonseca’s debut as a seeded player in an elite event. At 19, the Brazilian arrives buoyed by recent wins, including against top-30 players, aiming to advance in the draw to gain points in the season’s final stretch.
Coached by Guilherme Teixeira at Itanhangá Golf Club in Rio de Janeiro, Fonseca defeated Van de Zandschulp in straight sets during the 2024 Davis Cup in Bologna, Italy, on a similar hard court. The 30-year-old Dutchman, whose career-high was 22nd, notably upset Carlos Alcaraz at the 2024 US Open.
The exact date of the opening match is yet to be confirmed, likely Monday or Tuesday. Fonseca needs four wins to claim the title, which would mark his return to a final since his triumph in Buenos Aires in February.
- Top seeds: Lorenzo Musetti (9th), Felix Auger-Aliassime (13th), Jiri Lehecka (19th), Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (20th).
- 28-player singles draw, with four players receiving a bye to the round of 16.
- Total prize money of approximately €800,000, with 250 points for the champion.
🔥 https://t.co/eMBB8Us15F
— João Fonseca Updates (@fonsecaupdates) October 11, 2025
Head-to-head with Van de Zandschulp
Fonseca holds the edge in their head-to-head. In 2024, he beat the Dutchman 6/4, 7/6 in the Davis Cup. Van de Zandschulp showed resilience by defeating Alcaraz in New York. Fonseca has a 65% win rate on hard courts this season. The Dutchman, however, has struggled, dropping to 84th after peaking in 2022.
Potential round of 16 opponents
In the round of 16, Fonseca will face either Pedro Martinez, ranked 73rd, or a qualifier. Martinez, a 27-year-old Spaniard, has a solid defensive game. The qualifier could be a local wildcard or a mid-ranked player. Fonseca defeated Martinez in a challenger last year.
This round is scheduled for Wednesday, broadcast on Disney+ in Brazil.
Path to the quarterfinals
In the quarters, Fonseca could face Felix Auger-Aliassime, 13th, or Damir Dzumhur, 67th. Auger-Aliassime, a recent US Open semifinalist, boasts a powerful serve. Dzumhur, an experienced Bosnian, excels indoors. Fonseca has never played the Canadian.
The quarterfinals are set for Thursday or Friday. Auger-Aliassime has a first-round bye. Dzumhur won in Istanbul this year. Fonseca must stay sharp at the baseline.
Semifinal challenges
A semifinal could pit Fonseca against Zizou Bergs, 44th, David Goffin, 83rd, or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 20th. Bergs, a Belgian, is riding momentum from Shanghai quarters. Goffin, a former top-10, has home crowd support. Davidovich Fokina retired against Fonseca in Cincinnati in August.
Fonseca aims for his first semifinal since February. Bergs has an aggressive forehand. Goffin uses varied slices. Davidovich Fokina’s quick returns pose a threat.
Potential final matchups
In the final, Fonseca could face Lorenzo Musetti, 9th, or Jiri Lehecka, 19th. Musetti, the top favorite, earned a bronze medal at Paris 2024. Lehecka, a 23-year-old Czech, has risen with hard-court wins. Neither has faced Fonseca before.
The final is set for Sunday, October 19. Musetti leads indoor wins this year. Lehecka’s serve exceeds 200 km/h. Fonseca targets points for a top-30 push.
Fonseca’s recent momentum
Fonseca enters with three straight wins. He beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Davis Cup in Athens, 2-1 sets. He defeated Flavio Cobolli in the Laver Cup in San Francisco, 6/4, 6/3. These top-30 wins boosted his confidence.
Fonseca has 28 wins this season, including titles in Buenos Aires and challengers. He ranks as Brazil’s ninth-best player historically. He trained intensely in Rio for indoor courts. He skipped Shanghai to focus on Europe.
