João Fonseca has had a disappointing start to the 2026 tennis season, failing to secure a victory after being eliminated in the first round of the ATP 250 tournament in Buenos Aires. In his match on February 11, Fonseca, the defending champion, faced off against Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, ranked 71 in the world, ultimately losing in a tightly contested match with scores of 6/3, 3/6, and 7/5. This defeat marks another setback for the Brazilian player following his early exit at the Australian Open earlier this year.

After finishing the previous year ranked 24th globally, expectation was high for Fonseca as he began the new season. However, he has struggled with physical issues, particularly a back injury that has hampered his performance and forced him to withdraw from key tournaments in Adelaide and Brisbane. The lack of match play has certainly affected his competitiveness, culminating in his defeat in Melbourne against American Eliot Spizzirri, which added to the pressure as he looks ahead to future competitions.

Fonseca plans to return to his hometown for the upcoming Rio Open, set to take place from February 14 to February 22. The tournament presents an opportunity for him to regain his form and find success after a rocky start to 2026. As he prepares for this crucial event, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if he can turn his fortunes around and capitalize on his home-court advantage in Rio.