Is Fonseca basically a better , male version of Alex Eala?

[lurker2025]

Both are incredibly hyped prospects which come from nations starved of tennis prospects with Eala in particular being a pioneer for the Philippines. So far Fonseca is a lot better than Eala having won two titles and having broken into the top 25 while Eala barely broke into the top 30 but Eala has more top ten wins. Fonseca has great potential with his huge forehand and his power but with several young players being further ahead of him in his development he definitely feels closer to Eala than to any tennis great. Fonseca has shown that he can play some beatiful tennis but his shot selection, his mentality and composure let him down in big moments against top players. Eala is not in the same ballpark as Fonseca in terms of talent but she has also gotten attention that far outpaces her achievements in the field though very few people have tipped Eala for a slam, at most many tipped her to match Leylah Fernandez's achievements or to break into the top ten. I can see Eala as a top 15 or top 20 player in the future if she improves a lot but I think her becoming a top ten player would be an absolute best case scenario for her. Do you see Fonseca having a similar fate as Eala or will he become the top 5 player and slam winner many have predicted him to be? With Fonseca I think the hype has had a negative impact on him. I do not think he has the mentality of a top player.

 

[Cramerica]

I don't bother to watch either of their matches much anymore, so there's more commonality than you think.

 

[Breakpointerer]

Wow, is this is your first post made without somehow dragging Ruud into it?

 

[lurker2025]

Wow, is this is your first post made without somehow dragging Ruud into it?

I have autism

 

[Shaolin]

Both are incredibly hyped prospects which come from nations starved of tennis prospects with Eala in particular being a pioneer for the Philippines. So far Fonseca is a lot better than Eala having won two titles and having broken into the top 25 while Eala barely broke into the top 30 but Eala has more top ten wins. Fonseca has great potential with his huge forehand and his power but with several young players being further ahead of him in his development he definitely feels closer to Eala than to any tennis great. Fonseca has shown that he can play some beatiful tennis but his shot selection, his mentality and composure let him down in big moments against top players. Eala is not in the same ballpark as Fonseca in terms of talent but she has also gotten attention that far outpaces her achievements in the field though very few people have tipped Eala for a slam, at most many tipped her to match Leylah Fernandez's achievements or to break into the top ten. I can see Eala as a top 15 or top 20 player in the future if she improves a lot but I think her becoming a top ten player would be an absolute best case scenario for her. Do you see Fonseca having a similar fate as Eala or will he become the top 5 player and slam winner many have predicted him to be? With Fonseca I think the hype has had a negative impact on him. I do not think he has the mentality of a top player.

Yes they both get a lot of hype and fan support, mainly because of their built-in fanbases. That is where the similarities end.

 

[lurker2025]

Yes they both get a lot of hype and fan support, mainly because of their built-in fanbases. That is where the similarities end.

The question is wll Fonseca be a top top player or will he be just a good player? Or something in between

 

[Cramerica]

The question is wll Fonseca be a top top player or will he be just a good player? Or something in between

He's got all the weapons to stay just inside or just outside of the top 10, never realizing above number 5.

There are better players coming in to take the reigns once Zverev falls out of the picture and assuming Michelle Obama isn't in attendance whilst Tiafoe is playing.

 

[lurker2025]

I do not like his mentality, it seems that the hype has had a negative impact on him and he often flatters on the pressure points in big matches.

 

[Cramerica]

I do not like his mentality, it seems that the hype has had a negative impact on him and he often flatters on the pressure points in big matches.

Much like the more recent Brazilian football teams.

 

[StefanosRespecter]

What a bizzare comparison to make lol.

 

[lurker2025]

What a bizzare comparison to make lol.

Both draw insane crowds.

 

[Cramerica]

Question is, if we Eala played Fonseca (who is part of the New Big 3), who would have more fans in the stands? They play in Luxembourg - neutral territory.

 

[4UTRMoutet]

Victories against top 10 is the key indicator of future success, not winning titles. Baez and DeMinaur can win all the mini titles they want without encountering a tough match in the final. Beating the top players at a young age mean that even if you don't have the consistency yet to consistently land deep runs you have the potential to beat the best in the moments that matter, which is a trait only a few have, like the plucky Learner Tien, Arthur Fils, and Mensik have.

Against top 10

Tien 6 - 6
Fils 9 - 15
Mensik 9 - 9

Fonseca is the outlier with 1 - 6 record!

 

[lurker2025]

Question is, if we Eala played Fonseca (who is part of the New Big 3), who would have more fans in the stands? They play in Luxembourg - neutral territory.

Some have claimed Eala is even more popular than Fonseca.

 

[pedrogcr]

Victories against top 10 is the key indicator of future success, not winning titles. Baez and DeMinaur can win all the mini titles they want without encountering a tough match in the final. Beating the top players at a young age mean that even if you don't have the consistency yet to consistently land deep runs you have the potential to beat the best in the moments that matter, which is a trait only a few have, like the plucky Learner Tien, Arthur Fils, and Mensik have.

Against top 10

Tien 6 - 6
Fils 9 - 15
Mensik 9 - 9

Fonseca is the outlier with 1 - 6 record!

Quick question... And what does the H2H of Fonseca against each of them mean?

Tien 0 - 1(3) Fonseca
Fils 0 - 1(2) Fonseca
Mensik 0 - 1(2) Fonseca

*( ) includes Next Gen Finals

 

[lurker2025]

Quick question... And what does the H2H of Fonseca against each of them mean?

Tien 0 - 1(3) Fonseca
Fils 0 - 1(2) Fonseca
Mensik 0 - 1(2) Fonseca

*( ) includes Next Gen Finals

He played them at an earlier stage of their development to be fair.

 

[Shaolin]

The question is wll Fonseca be a top top player or will he be just a good player? Or something in between

Top 10 for sure. Maybe a slam or two to his name also.

I think that Jodar will be better though.

 

[pedrogcr]

He played them at an earlier stage of their development to be fair.

Makes sense...

Just one more question: What does it mean that Fonseca is now the same age (19) they all were when he last beat them "in the early stages of their careers"?

 

[4UTRMoutet]

Quick question... And what does the H2H of Fonseca against each of them mean?

Tien 0 - 1(3) Fonseca
Fils 0 - 1(2) Fonseca
Mensik 0 - 1(2) Fonseca

*( ) includes Next Gen Finals

Chang owned Sampras in the beginning of their rivalry. Now look at what happened in the end?

Sure their h2h against Joao only proves that they match up badly into him, but reaching the top isn't about beating your peers, it's about beating the best so you can take their spot, and Fonseca has only done that once!

 

[4UTRMoutet]

Top 10 for sure. Maybe a slam or two to his name also.

I think that Jodar will be better though.

Jodar definitely the one with the highest ceiling out of NextGen (Tien Fils Mensik Jodar Landaluce Blockx Fonseca). Fundamentally speaking he doesn't have any weaknesses, at the very worst he's mediocre. He also has an incredibly underrated forehand dropshot.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Athletically, Eala seems like she might have a ceiling in the same way someone like Raducanu does. But Eala is such a talented and unique ballstriker. She has the ability to ball redirect in a very dangerous way in a style similar to Bencic or a less powerful or dictatorial version of Anisimova. The worry for Eala is the athleticism and defence on WTA now is so high that if you dont have that the only way to survive is be a cream of the crop ballstriker who lives and dies on very high risk tennis. Hard to keep pulling that off over and over but the ones who can do it are cult favourites on the tour. Eala could be the next.

Fonseca is a bit different in that there were questions about him athletically that he is already answering at a time when he is starting to show some fantastic all court prowess and mental strength to capitalise on his devastating forehand as well. He is similar to Eala that he is an extremely dangerous ballstriker, but I dont think his talent is in weaponising an opponent's pace the same way Eala can. Fonz seems to like the extra time to stack and load then cannon goes boom down the line.

It's definitely an interesting comparison because both players have very fervant national fanbases in markets with huge tennis growth potential, both are on similar age development arcs and both with different but absolutely devastating baselining weapons and an extra X factor. They're both going to be getting a lot of centre court appearances so we can see how they handle the pressure differently as they develop.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Jodar definitely the one with the highest ceiling out of NextGen (Tien Fils Mensik Jodar Landaluce Blockx Fonseca). Fundamentally speaking he doesn't have any weaknesses, at the very worst he's mediocre. He also has an incredibly underrated forehand dropshot.

That is a huge vote of confidence for Jodar to have him even above Mensik. Mensik looks very dangerous to me.

If you had to rank Fils, Mensik, Fonz and Tien in order behind Jodar, where would you rank each of those guys?

 

[4UTRMoutet]

That is a huge vote of confidence for Jodar to have him even above Mensik. Mensik looks very dangerous to me.

If you had to rank Fils, Mensik, Fonz and Tien in order behind Jodar, where would you rank each of those guys?

I am not ranking on current performance (Mensik and Tien would easily win in that regard) but my order for future challengers to Sincaraz would be

Jodar > Fils > Tien = Mensik > Fonseca = Blockx > Landaluce

 

[ChrisJR3264]

With Fonseca you can clearly see the higher ceiling in comparison to Eala. Both players are the best talents from their respective countries in decades so yes, their fan base is quite high. With Eala, I don’t know I don’t see elite measures in her physical game. Mental? Hard to tell - still a kid.
Fonseca the physical talent he has is high ceiling. Effortless power, good shape on his ball and pretty good all around game in terms of baseline, serve and net play.
His shot selection, point construction and patience/strategy are massively inconsistent. He’s 19 so I can’t exactly project his mental game as kids develop at different stages.

While both have considerable amount of fans in every match, I don’t think Eala has the same ceiling on the women’s side vs. what Jao’s is.
Both seem to be carrying the same expectations.
Both have time to deliver.
I think for Fonseca, what will hinder him is failure to develop patience and shot selection.

Only time will tell.

 

[ChrisJR3264]

I am not ranking on current performance (Mensik and Tien would easily win in that regard) but my order for future challengers to Sincaraz would be

Jodar > Fils > Tien = Mensik > Fonseca = Blockx > Landaluce

I’m a bit skeptical to place Jodar at 1 even with his hot clay court season at the moment. It’s tough to weigh 1 match vs. Jao but I do like him. The patience and discipline Jodar displays, I can probably say the results now do project to him ascending and holding consistent results.
Mensik to me is the oldest of the bunch? I’d have to look it up but he defeats sinner , huge win. But he steered off the path and didn’t build from that win.
I wouldn’t look at ranking. I love Tien but when you compare the film against the top guys, Jodar and Fonseca displayed top 10 level tennis against sinner and alcaraz. Tien struggled significantly as if he wasn’t near the level to compete against sinner twice now.
I’d put Jao at two behind Jodar. I think if Jao makes more changes to his game, his upside is higher. Folks want to place him this low, but forget his last 5 losses are tight two setters to sinner and alcaraz, 3 sets to zverev, Shelton and Jodar. I wouldn’t put him in the same category as blockx or even below Tien or mensik. He lost his atp points to defend mostly due to injury the first 2 months which seems to be forgotten.

I’m also not jumping on the Blockx train after one tournament.
Jodar
Fonseca
Fils
Tien
Mensik

Blockx

 

[4UTRMoutet]

I’m a bit skeptical to place Jodar at 1 even with his hot clay court season at the moment. It’s tough to weigh 1 match vs. Jao but I do like him. The patience and discipline Jodar displays, I can probably say the results now do project to him ascending and holding consistent results.
Mensik to me is the oldest of the bunch? I’d have to look it up but he defeats sinner , huge win. But he steered off the path and didn’t build from that win.
I wouldn’t look at ranking. I love Tien but when you compare the film against the top guys, Jodar and Fonseca displayed top 10 level tennis against sinner and alcaraz. Tien struggled significantly as if he wasn’t near the level to compete against sinner twice now.
I’d put Jao at two behind Jodar. I think if Jao makes more changes to his game, his upside is higher. Folks want to place him this low, but forget his last 5 losses are tight two setters to sinner and alcaraz, 3 sets to zverev, Shelton and Jodar. I wouldn’t put him in the same category as blockx or even below Tien or mensik. He lost his atp points to defend mostly due to injury the first 2 months which seems to be forgotten.

I’m also not jumping on the Blockx train after one tournament.
Jodar
Fonseca
Fils
Tien
Mensik

Blockx

I placed Jodar higher because he has no weaknesses, whereas Joao is below average in movement. He's more all rounded built with exceptional groundstrokes on both wings, good lateral movement, and a multidimensional game that you can see with lots of dropshot usage. People been saying he plays like Sinner and if anything history has shown that people who play like Sinner/Djoker are at the highest potential to dominate.

Mensik I placed there because he has the best serve for the bunch by far (though his forehand will need some help) as well as winning Miami. Sure, he didn't really build off of that win, but it at least shows he's capable of going big and winning.

Tien has excellent results against top 10 not named Sinner and there's a reason why. Tien builds his game off of strategical shotmaking and strong defensive movement. The problem is that everything he does Sinner does 3 notches better. It's not that he doesn't play at a higher level against Sinner like Fonseca does, but that he matches up badly against him, in the same way Ruud cannot get a lick off of Sinner because everything he does Sinner does better. Fonseca has it easier because his forehand is booming, which is an x factor that if he takes advantage of, can make a dent in the Italian, the same way Delpo's x factor was his power that overwhelmed Federer from time to time. With time if Tien builds up some power or some other trick, then it will even out.

 

[Subway Tennis]

I placed Jodar higher because he has no weaknesses, whereas Joao is below average in movement. He's more all rounded built with exceptional groundstrokes on both wings, good lateral movement, and a multidimensional game that you can see with lots of dropshot usage. People been saying he plays like Sinner and if anything history has shown that people who play like Sinner/Djoker are at the highest potential to dominate.

Mensik I placed there because he has the best serve for the bunch by far (though his forehand will need some help) as well as winning Miami. Sure, he didn't really build off of that win, but it at least shows he's capable of going big and winning.

Tien has excellent results against top 10 not named Sinner and there's a reason why. Tien builds his game off of strategical shotmaking and strong defensive movement. The problem is that everything he does Sinner does 3 notches better. It's not that he doesn't play at a higher level against Sinner like Fonseca does, but that he matches up badly against him, in the same way Ruud cannot get a lick off of Sinner because everything he does Sinner does better. Fonseca has it easier because his forehand is booming, which is an x factor that if he takes advantage of, can make a dent in the Italian, the same way Delpo's x factor was his power that overwhelmed Federer from time to time. With time if Tien builds up some power or some other trick, then it will even out.

Great writeup. With regards to Jodar, what do you think of his return position? I have about 60 matches of his that I want to catch up on to find out more information before I say too much. Until then, I've got my ears open to you guys who have watched more of his matches.

 

[lurker2025]

So you think Fonseca is going to be the next big thing? He certainly does not look like he has the maturity of a great champion to me. But I might be wrong and he, or both Eala and he might ascend to greater heights.

 

[4UTRMoutet]

Great writeup. With regards to Jodar, what do you think of his return position? I have about 60 matches of his that I want to catch up on to find out more information before I say too much. Until then, I've got my ears open to you guys who have watched more of his matches.

Very strong return I think due to his strength on both wings and that he stands pretty deep. If we compare Jodar to players of his age (sort of), I arbitrarily chose Fils and Fonseca to compare.

Break point conversion
45% Jodar to 37% Fonseca and 39% Fils

Return games won
29% Jodar to 22% Fonseca and 21% Fils