The ongoing exhibition swing in the United States has brought a burst of entertainment for fans during the offseason, but it has also carried its share of risks for players. Recently, Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz narrowly avoided injury after a fierce shot from youngster Joao Fonseca. Though both reacted lightheartedly, Alcaraz clearly escaped a scare.
Carlos Alcaraz Unscathed After Receiving a Massive Blow From Joao Fonseca at Miami Mixed Doubles
Fresh off a dominant season highlighted by eight tour-level titles, including two Grand Slams and three Masters 1000 crowns, along with a year-end finish atop the ATP rankings, Alcaraz headed to the United States for exhibition action, first in Newark on Sunday, December 7, and then in Miami on Monday, December 8.
Alcaraz was the marquee attraction at loanDepot Park for the Miami Invitational, and he lived up to expectations against the young Brazilian. After trading blows with World No. 24 Fonseca, the Spaniard edged out a 7–5, 2–6, 10–8 victory in their first meeting of any kind.
The mixed doubles match added further intrigue, as Alcaraz and Jessica Pegula faced off against Fonseca and Amanda Anisimova. The contest took a startling turn with the score tied at 1–1, when Fonseca, while returning Pegula’s shot, unintentionally struck a forehand that first clipped Alcaraz’s racket before deflecting into his face. Notably, Alcaraz stood near to the net at the time.
The scary moment drew anxious reactions from the crowd and the commentators alike, but Alcaraz emerged unscathed and brushed it off with a smile. Fonseca also responded immediately, offering an apology to the World No. 1.
Fonseca is taking no prisoners tonight 💥
Watch out @carlosalcaraz 😂 pic.twitter.com/Z9HGbdMIiv
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) December 9, 2025
Fonseca has firmly established himself as one of the fastest-rising players of the modern era, and he lived up to that billing in 2025. The 19-year-old Brazilian posted a 26–16 record, captured titles in Basel (ATP 500) and Buenos Aires (ATP 250), and surged to a career-high World No. 24 ranking.
Earlier in the night in Miami, fans also witnessed a women’s singles clash between Anisimova and Pegula, with the former defeating the latter 6–2, 7–5. The doubles contest, however, saw Alcaraz and Pegula bounce back to beat Anisimova and Fonseca in a mixed doubles 10-point tiebreak.
With the offseason drawing to a close, attention now shifts to how players fine-tune themselves for the opening tournaments of the 2026 season, leading into the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open in January.
