MELBOURNE: NextGen champion Joao Fonseca’s dazzling run of form propelled him into a maiden Grand Slam main draw on Thursday when he powered through Australian Open qualifying.

The Brazilian talent became the second-youngest champion of the NextGen ATP tournament last month since current world number one Jannik Sinner claimed the title, also aged 18, five years ago.

Fonseca then added an ATP Challenger Tour title to his name in Canberra last week.

His 6-4, 6-1 win over Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante to book his place in the Australian Open, which starts on Sunday, was his 13th straight victory.

The man he beat for the NextGen title, Learner Tien of the United States, also progressed through qualifying, as did another teenager in Spain’s highly touted Martin Landaluce.

It is the first time three teenagers have successfully qualified for a men’s singles Grand Slam main draw since the US Open in 2015.

Former world number 16 Nikoloz Basilashvili continued his journey back to form, the 32-year-old Georgian making his first main draw of a major since the 2023 Australian Open.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2025