Adelaide International
Back pain could compromise AO for Fonseca
Brazilian young gun Joao Fonesca was forced out of next week’s Adelaide International with back pain with just over a week to go before the start of the Australian Open.
The 19-year-old who picked up titles in Buenos Aires and Basel during his rookie 2025 season followed up last week’s withdrawal from the ATP 2026 kickoff in Brisbane,
Fonesca suffers with a hereditary complaint which occasionally flares up and brought on a stress fracture five years ago.
“”It was difficult to make this decision. After some days of practice I was feeling better,” Fonseca said of the pullout..
“But I can’t say I’m at 100 percent. I’m trying my best to recover – the Australian Open is the main goal.”
He added: “We did an MRI and the problem is nothing very serious. But we want to be 100 percent safe. We know it could have been worse.”
The joint-ATP-WTA event is the last tune-up week prior to the start of play in Melbourne next Sunday, January 18.