Andy Murray wants to see Joao Fonseca versus Carlos Alcaraz, with the 18-year-old yet to meet the Spaniard on the ATP Tour.

Fonseca started his season in superb fashion, reaching the Australian Open second round after knocking out Andrey Rublev.

The Melbourne qualifier beat the ninth seed in straight sets, but soon fell to Lorenzo Sonego in a five-set battle.

Jimmy Connors wants American youngsters to emulate Joao Fonseca

In his first tournament after Australia, Fonseca stormed his way to the Argentina Open trophy, beating Francisco Cerundolo in the final.

And that success has caught the eye of American legend Jimmy Connors, who said on the Advantage Connors podcast: “He is fun to watch.

“And that little experience helps. He has been in some positions where he has had a little success but not where he wants to be.

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“You get to a point where you can fight your demons. It seems that is what happens. To get to a point of winning in South America, winning in Argentina, on the clay and being 18.

“18 now, 19, 20. If you are not making it now or starting to make it in the game you have to start thinking of something else, because there are these young kids who are pushing up now.

“I wish more would happen like that over in the United States, that more kids would push on to this fantastic game and want to be a part of it.

“It seems that South America and Europe… even though we do have some women, the women are really doing great.

“The men, even though they have made a push forward, they are not winning those Grand Slams. And this kid at 18, with his power and his new experience that he has by winning.

“Nothing is better than winning. That gives you everything. It gives you confidence, it gives you the understanding of where your game is, it gives you a whole new feeling of the way you enter everything new in the future and, boy, what an opportunity for him.”

Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova help American women outshine men in 2025

American men did shine in 2024, with Taylor Fritz having led the way with his run to the finals of the Australian Open and ATP Finals.

But 2025 has witnessed little success from American men so far, although Tommy Paul has joined Fritz in the top 10 rankings.

READ MORE: The nightmare American men’s record that looks set to continue in 2025 after what happened at the Dallas Open

American women meanwhile are flying high this season, with Madison Keys lifting the Australian Open trophy last month.

She is joined by Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro in the WTA top 10, while their compatriot Amanda Anisimova just won the Qatar Open.

Fonseca meanwhile has remarkably fallen early on home soil at the Rio Open, losing in the round of 32 to Alexandre Muller.

But he remains a real threat to the big stars of the ATP Tour, with that event having come immediately after his superb success in Buenos Aires.