Joao Fonseca sits second in the PIF ATP Live Next Gen Race published by the ATP on Monday, September 14, 2026. The Brazilian has 1,200 points, behind Spain's Rafael Jodar, who leads with 2,509. Martin Landaluce holds third place with 748.
A new venue in December
The race has a new destination: the Next Gen ATP Finals will take place from December 9 to 13 at the PalaCalafiore in Reggio Calabria. The official announcement on September 9 confirmed a return to Italy, where the event began in 2017 and was last staged in Milan in 2022. The competition features singles players aged 20 and under.
The 2024 title
Fonseca already knows what it takes to lift the trophy. On December 22, 2024, at 18, he defeated Learner Tien 2-4, 4-3(8), 4-0, 4-2 in the Jeddah final, completing an unbeaten week with five victories. The featured video is archive footage: it shows highlights of that 2024 final, published by the official ATP channel.
In that final, the Brazilian saved a set point in the second-set tiebreak before completing his comeback. Tien won the following edition in 2025, as noted in the ATP's announcement of the new host city.
The race is still open
In the current race, Rei Sakamoto is fourth with 321 points, followed by Federico Cina on 312. The Japanese player came through US Open qualifying and earned his first Grand Slam main-draw victory. His nine-point advantage over Cina illustrates how close the contest remains immediately behind the top three.
Fonseca turned 20 on August 21 and remains within the event's age limit. The table is a snapshot of the specific Next Gen race on September 14, separate from the overall world rankings and the race to the ATP Finals. His second place does not yet confirm qualification or participation in December.
