João Fonseca is stepping onto Court Philippe-Chatrier today for his third-round clash against Novak Djokovic at the French Open. Currently ranked world No. 30, the 19-year-old is coming off a five-set comeback win against Dino Prižmić in the second round. As Fonseca prepares to face one of the greatest players in the history of the sport on the Parisian clay, there is someone in his corner drawing the spotlight: his girlfriend, Manu Noronha.
All About João Fonseca’s Relationship With Long-time Girlfriend and Model Manu Noronha
Fonseca and Noronha met while studying together at the Escola Americana (American School), a prestigious school in Rio de Janeiro, and they kept their relationship private for a long time. While he eventually left to pursue tennis professionally, Noronha completed her studies there, spent some time abroad, and then enrolled at Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) in Rio de Janeiro to study marketing.
She is also a model, signed with 40graus Models, one of Brazil’s top modeling agencies, and has worked for brands like Maria Filó and Oh Boy. Speaking about her career, she has said she loves expressing herself through fashion and connecting with people who share the same energy.
The rumors of their relationship started when fans noticed Fonseca leaving comments like “Linda!” and “Muito gata!” on Noronha’s Instagram photos back in July 2024. In March 2025, Fonseca officially confirmed the relationship, telling ESPN reporters at the Miami Open that he was looking forward to taking a week off to rest in Rio with his “family and girlfriend.”
The couple went viral in September 2025, when she appeared alongside Fonseca at the Laver Cup gala, stepping into the public eye in a stunning black dress. “She’s always been incredibly supportive. Having her around helps me stay grounded,” Fonseca said during an interview last year.
El garoto Joao Fonseca 🇧🇷 está muy enamorado ❤️
Presento a su novia en la alfombra de la #LaverCup2025 y confesó: “Ella me hace muy feliz”#LAM pic.twitter.com/bLyOoXTCQC— Solo Tenis Picks🇦🇷 / Apuestas Deportivas Free (@solotenispicks) September 19, 2025
In the 2026 season, Fonseca has made a few notable runs. At the Indian Wells, he reached the Round of 16 with victories over seeded players like Tommy Paul and Karen Khachanov. In Munich, he reached the quarterfinal but lost to the eventual champion Ben Shelton.
MORE: Novak Djokovic vs João Fonseca Preview: Head-to-Head, Prediction for French Open 2026
His second round matchup at this French Open was a 3-hour and 27-minute marathon against Prižmić. After dropping the first two sets, the teenager mounted an epic comeback to win in five sets: 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.
Now, he is set to face the 39-year-old Serb, who is eyeing his 25th Grand Slam. This match can be called a generation clash, and it is scheduled at 10 a.m. on Friday.
