Joao Fonseca to defend Argentina Open title as entry is confirmed
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty ImagesMax KilhamThu, January 15, 2026 at 3:07 PM UTC·2 min read
Joao Fonseca’s 2025 campaign was one of the most impressive rises seen on the ATP Tour in recent years.
The Brazilian caught the world’s attention during his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open, where he knocked out ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets.
His steady climb continued through a string of strong performances, capped off by a second career title at the Swiss Indoors, helping him finish the season ranked No. 25 in the world.
Fonseca, widely viewed as a possible contender to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s hold over men’s tennis, will look to build on that momentum heading into 2026.
This week brought more positive news for his fans, with confirmation that he will return to an event he has previously won.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Joao Fonseca already has a strong connection with the Argentina Open. The Brazilian claimed his first ATP Tour title at the event in 2025, beating three home favourites on the way to the final, before taking down fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo to lift the trophy.
Fonseca will look to defend that title in 2026, with his participation in this year’s event already confirmed.
He’ll enter as the fourth seed in Buenos Aires, joining a field that includes Lorenzo Musetti, Francisco Cerundolo and Luciano Darderi.
Lorenzo Sonego, Sebastien Baez and Matteo Berrettini are among other notable names set to compete. Berrettini played a key role in Italy’s 2025 Davis Cup run and was also a finalist at Wimbledon in 2021.
After his 2025 victory in Buenos Aires, Fonseca spoke about how much the local support meant to him, even acknowledging the surprising number of Brazilians cheering for him in Argentina.
The rivalry between Brazil and Argentina is well-documented, especially when it comes to football. Still, Fonseca was quick to note the warmth he felt during his time at the tournament.
“That’s just amazing. Every Brazilian, everyone from their country wants this support from your own country. For me, this [moment] that I’m living is just unbelievable.
“I want to thank my family, my friends and my sponsors for just helping me achieve my dream, which is to play tennis.
“Of course I want to be No. 1, of course I want to win Slams, titles, but my dream is just to play tennis and I’m living it.”
This year’s Argentina Open will again be held at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, an iconic venue often called the “Cathedral of Argentinean tennis.” The tournament runs from February 9th to 15th.
The last local player to claim the title was Facundo Diaz Acosta back in 2024.
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