João Fonseca, currently ranked 43rd in the ATP, debuts this Tuesday (14) at the ATP 250 in Brussels, Belgium, as a seed for the first time in his career. The 19-year-old from Rio faces Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, ranked 84th, around 2:30 p.m. (Brasília time) on an indoor hard court. The match marks the Brazilian’s return to the circuit after the Laver Cup, with the tournament offering 250 points to the champion.
The event runs from October 13 to 19 and features 28 players in the singles draw. Fonseca arrives buoyed by recent wins, including in the Davis Cup and Laver Cup.
The head-to-head record favors the Brazilian.
In 2024, at the Davis Cup, Fonseca won 2-0, with scores of 6/4, 7/6(3).
Van de Zandschulp aims to reverse the result in this rematch.
The Dutchman has a record of 14 wins and 17 losses this season.
Bom dia com lembrete:A abstinência acabou e hoje tem João Fonseca! Botic van de ZandschulpPor volta das 14h30 na ESPN2, Disney+ Premium e Tennis TV. pic.twitter.com/XBMJv3algS— João Fonseca Updates (@fonsecaupdates) October 14, 2025
Head-to-head history
Fonseca defeated Van de Zandschulp in a tight Davis Cup match in 2024, in Bologna, Italy. The Brazilian converted key break points in the first set and held firm in the second-set tiebreak.
Van de Zandschulp, 30, peaked at 22nd in the rankings in 2022 and has notable wins, like against Carlos Alcaraz at the 2024 US Open.
Profile of the Dutch opponent
Botic van de Zandschulp plays a versatile style, mixing powerful serves with solid defense.
He has reached three ATP 250 finals without a title, including runner-up finishes in Munich (2022 and 2023) and Winston-Salem (2025).
The Dutchman won a doubles title in Montpellier 2025, partnering with Robin Haase.
Van de Zandschulp lost in the first round of the Shanghai Masters 1000 recently but has shown consistency on fast surfaces.
Fonseca’s season in numbers
The young Brazilian tennis player has 21 wins and 14 losses in top-tier ATP tournaments this season.
He adds 10 wins in 11 Challenger-level matches, solidifying his rise.
Fonseca reached the third round at the US Open, his best Grand Slam performance to date.
Since then, he secured two Davis Cup wins against Greece and a Laver Cup victory over Flavio Cobolli (6/4, 6/3).
The Rio native trains at Itanhangá Golf Club under coach Guilherme Teixeira since age 16.
Broadcast and schedule details
The match takes place on the center court, as the last game of the day, depending on earlier matches’ duration.
ESPN and Disney+ broadcast live in Brazil, with specialized narration and commentary.
The tournament offers a total prize pool of 706,000 euros, about R$4.4 million.
Top seeds: Lorenzo Musetti (9th), Félix Auger-Aliassime (13th), Jiri Lehecka (19th).
2024 champion: Roberto Bautista Agut, defending the title.
2025 innovation: First edition in Brussels, moved from Antwerp.
Next steps in the European schedule
After Brussels, Fonseca heads to the ATP 500 in Basel, October 20-26, on indoor hard courts. The Swiss event offers 500 points to the winner and attracts top-10 players like Novak Djokovic.
Next, the Paris Masters 1000, from October 27 to November 2, with 1,000 points at stake on a similar surface.
The calendar closes with the ATP 250 in Athens, November 2-8, debuting on the Greek circuit on outdoor hard courts.
Fonseca aims for semifinals in at least one of these events to boost his ranking toward 2026.
He confirmed participation in the 2026 Rio Open, his home tournament, reinforcing commitments in Brazil. The European schedule prioritizes adaptation to fast indoor courts, where Fonseca performs well. He skipped Asian events to focus on the season’s final stretch, optimizing physical recovery after 35 matches. Bautista Agut, the defending champion, is a threat, but Fonseca, the youngest in the top 50, represents renewal in the circuit.
