Alcaraz recalls his first match against Nadal: completely overwhelmed, that experience helped me grow.

Alcaraz secured a 6-4 6-4 victory over Fonseca in their debut match at the Miami Open. For Fonseca, this defeat was his second straight loss to a top-tier opponent—at Indian Wells less than two weeks prior, he fell to Sinner in two sets that both went to tie-breaks.

Nevertheless, Alcaraz promptly characterized these encounters as pivotal moments in the Brazilian's growth journey, not setbacks. The world number one also drew a parallel with his own experience in post-match comments, recalling his first match against the legendary Nadal at the 2021 Madrid Masters, which coincided with his 18th birthday and ended in a heavy defeat.

The young player suffered an early injury and managed to win only three games against the King of Clay. Despite the loss, Alcaraz still views that moment as one of the most significant turning points in his career. The match against Nadal clarified for him and his team the areas needing improvement, and that encounter provided direction for his training over the following months.

A year later, the two met again on the same court, and the young Spaniard delivered a stunning performance to defeat the legend. Now, Alcaraz believes Fonseca is undergoing a similar process; in the world number one's view, facing players like Sinner and himself offers invaluable experience, providing a blueprint for reaching the top level.

In 2025, Fonseca achieved a major breakthrough and entered the world top 25; Alcaraz expects him to reach the elite ranks in the future, with the key being how he applies these lessons after matches. For João, recent challenges will lay the foundation for his growth. This fearless Brazilian is ready to test himself against top opponents and measure his strength against the leaders of men's tennis.

If Alcaraz's career serves as a reference, these tough moments could soon become decisive growth points. Though the learning curve is steep, this might be exactly the experience he needs. Against Alcaraz, João squandered all three break points; he was broken early in both sets and fell behind, despite playing steadily, ultimately losing the match. Fonseca will now shift focus to the clay season, with his next tournament being the Monte Carlo Masters.

Alcaraz stated: "I still remember my first match against Rafa in Madrid. That match helped me a lot, even though he beat me badly. For João, playing against Jannik and me will be great learning experiences. The match against Rafa made us realize what we needed to work on in training. I believe João and his team have gained similar insights, and now they can apply these in their practice. They'll focus on areas to improve and how to handle specific match situations."

Next, Alcaraz will face local star Korda, their fifth official career meeting (the Spanish star leads 4-1). Alcaraz appears unaffected by his Indian Wells semifinal loss to Medvedev, where mental fatigue led to his unbeaten streak in the 2026 season being snapped. In a recent press conference, he admitted that most players elevate their level when facing him, hoping to pull off an upset.

After advancing to the third round, Alcaraz stressed the need to prepare for any type of opponent: "I feel that when players go all out and play more aggressively to beat me, I just take it as a compliment. Sometimes it's tough when I step onto the court and see opponents performing at that level. I try to stay one step ahead. I attempt to anticipate their next move before they make it. It's somewhat like playing chess. I strive to get there early or think about what will happen next."（Source: Tennis Home Author: Spark）