Joao Fonseca vs Learner Tien Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Teenage stars renew rivalry in Miami R1

Although Tien is the local American, it's likely Fonseca will have the majority of support, with a strong Brazilian and South American contingent expected to flock to the Miami Tennis Gardens for this highly-anticipated showdown. These two players have squared off four times previously, but this will be their first official tour-level match, while all four of those previous meetings at either the Next Gen ATP Finals or junior Grand Slams went the distance.

With that in mind, we're backing Over 20.5 total games for the best bet, while Fonseca is the deserved favourite to advance. The 18-year-old is coming off his second Challenger triumph of 2025 in Phoenix last week and is a staggering 25-4 at all levels since conquering Tien to win the Next Gen ATP Finals in December 2024. Tien is having a superb year himself, registering two top 10 scalps, but Fonseca is on another level and if the Brazilian plays like he has for most of the last few months, he should prove too strong.

Fonseca leads 3-1, but this will be their first proper match on tour. Tien prevailed in their first meeting at the 2023 junior French Open quarter-finals before Fonseca returned the favour, beating the American to secure the junior US Open title later that year. Fonseca then defeated Tien twice at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals - once in the round robin phase and again in the final, both in four sets.

It's been a whirlwind last few months for Fonseca - he's won 25 of his last 29 matches at all levels, shooting up to No. 60 in the world as a result.

Fonseca has lit up the tennis world in 2025, capturing two Challenger titles in Canberra and last week in Phoenix, while he also picked up his maiden ATP title on the clay of Buenos Aires, defeating four Argentines along the way.

Throw in a straight sets beatdown of top 10 star at the Australian Open and it's been a very productive three months of 2025 for Fonseca, who is on track to be seeded at the slams by season's end.

The 18-year-old had a tough draw in his Indian Wells opener, going down to eventual champion Jack Draper, but he bounced back with a brilliant run to the Challenger 175 Phoenix title, beating Kei Nishikori and Alexander Bublik to claim the silverware.

If it wasn't for Fonseca's stunning form, we would probably talking more about Tien, who is only ranked six spots behind the Brazilian at No. 66 in the world.

The 19-year-old has firmly established himself on the main tour in these first three months of 2025, securing top five scalps over Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open and Alexander Zverev in Acapulco.

Tien won a total of six matches at the Australian Open after qualifying and reaching the fourth round of the main draw, exceeding that of Fonseca.

The American also qualified and made the quarter-finals of Acapulco, but Tien was flat in a disappointing straight sets loss in Indian Wells against clay courter Mariano Navone.