There are already many interviews that I have carried, but I still feel a special feeling with some. I don’t know how to describe it, it’s as if my head will fly to the future to remind me how privileged I am to be at the exact moment and in the right place. From there he sends me signals to quickly return to the present, stop dreaming and pay attention to the 17-year-old boy in front of me trying to make his way towards professionalism. This is Joao Fonseca (Rio de Janeiro, 2006), one of those special players who excites only by fantasizing what the circuit may have in store for him.
His journey in the Challenger Open Comunidad de Madrid reached the quarterfinals, a round where he faced an inspired Leandro Riedi. Thank goodness that in Break Point It had been days since we had sat down with the Brazilian to discover his personality through half an hour of talk where he told about his roots, his emergence into the circuit and some unfulfilled dreams that were piling up in his head. Seeing how he expresses himself and what his concerns are, one thing is clear to me: that he is currently the best sub-18 on the planet is no coincidence.
Your name sounds louder every day, do you feel that way?
Yes, I would say that it all started in 2022, when they gave me a WC to play Roland Garros Junior and Daniel Vallejo, one of the best in the ranking, won. Suddenly my name started to be heard, I got points to play the rest of the Grand Slams, until I ended up winning the US Open last year. Winning in New York gave me a lot of visibility, especially in Brazil. Two months ago I reached the quarterfinals at the ATP 500 in Rio, so I’m still getting used to this new reality. These have been very nice months to live.
How do you handle this sudden fame?
Everything has been very fast, my life has changed completely, but I try to take it calmly, luckily I have the support of my family and my team to manage the day to day. Right now I am very distanced from social networks, where a lot of noise is generated. In fact, I don’t look at social media, during tournaments I prefer to turn off my phone so I don’t think about any of that. I focus on the routine and the things I have to do.
What’s wrong with social networks?
There is too much news, some say that I am playing well, others say that I am playing badly, sometimes you find articles that are not good to read. All that takes you away from focus a little.
You are currently the best U18 in the world, what a pressure.
There’s a bit of pressure, but it’s a good pressure, a pressure that means people trust me. I know I have the potential to reach the top, so I take it as a positive thing, it motivates me to train more and want to get there. I have always been very calm with expectations, I don’t think about it much, I prefer to focus on my routines. The results will come, the important thing is to keep your head in the present, not on what they are talking about.
Do you see yourself winning Grand Slams? Being No. 1?
Yes Yes. Completely.
You are convinced.
I have the confidence to get there, but I know I have to work hard.
What is the secret ingredient to success?
Dedication and confidence, one has to believe in oneself. Medvedev, for example, always says that he does not have the best shots, but through a lot of work he has managed to establish himself among the best in the world.
Do you have any reference?
My idol has always been Roger Federer.
Mine too.
Everyone’s (laughs)
(laughs)
But now I pay a lot of attention to Jannik Sinner. I like Djokovic too, but I watch Sinner more.
Let me stay for a moment on Federer, because you saw the same sponsor. Have you had contact with him?
I get asked this question a lot (laughs). We have shared some messages, but I haven’t been able to meet him in person yet. Right now he is very busy and I also have tournaments, but I hope to have a meeting with him soon. I have seen many of his games, I just need to be in front of him.
How that man played…
The class he has is impressive, sometimes it was like playing a video game. It’s crazy.
How do you define yourself on the court?
I am an aggressive player, I like to dominate the points, play straighter, without much height.
Sinner came to mind.
Exactly, that’s why I like to see him. He always plays very aggressively, he is very intense and dominates all points.
How are you treated in Brazil? Are there comparisons with Kuerten?
Many people see me as that great promise, as ‘the new Guga’. He is my idol, he still is, but I am Joao. I will never be Guga, I can’t be like him. I want to win Grand Slams and be No. 1 in the world, but now I’m 17 years old, I can’t say that I’m going to achieve all these things. That’s why I don’t like social networks, people talk a lot about these issues, they are always setting expectations. I’m just a player who is fighting to reach the top.
The same thing happens here with Alcaraz and Nadal.
I think that in Spain this comparison is even more accentuated, because Nadal and Alcaraz have similar points in their game, such as the intensity when moving and hitting the ball. What of Spring It was a different style than mine, he had a lot of hand, they are different times. Some compare us, but I think not as much as they do with Nadal-Alcaraz.
The last South American Grand Slam champion was Juan Martín Del Potro, US Open 2009. What is the reason for this dominance of the Europeans?
Sincerely I dont know. In Brazil I am very good with my team, I wouldn’t know how to explain it to you. Europe has great countries, just like America, I don’t know if it has to do with a physical or technical issue… although well, the Big3 also had a lot to do with that fact, they won everything! Now many South Americans are starting to enter the top 100, they are rising in the ranking, including the Brazilians. When it comes to working, Europe has always had a better structure than South America, that is not our strong point.
Most of the circuit is played in Europe, it is not easy to leave your home and be away for so long.
The longest I was without going home was three months. […] Yes, it may be this too, the structure. A European always has the option of returning home for a few days, training, being with his family and going to the next tournament. The calendar is made like this, there are many tournaments in Europe, so it is normal for many players to emerge. In my case, as I said before, in Brazil I don’t lack anything, I have a very good team around me, we even have an Academy nearby to train with good players.
If I wrote down all of ‘Guga’ Kuerten’s achievements on paper, would you sign on to have his career?
No […] I want to go through all the stages, I want to go through the Challenger circuit, mature little by little until I reach the top and compete to win the big tournaments. I want to be Joao, I don’t want Guga’s career. I don’t just want to win three Roland Garros, I also dream of winning a US Open, an Australian Open… I want to be me.
I asked Carlos Alcaraz the same question a few years ago, but with the career of Juan Carlos Ferrero. He didn’t sign it for me either.
Of course, each player has to be unique, write their own story, not have the story of another who has already been.
Do you see in Alcaraz the great leader of this new generation?
I think so, he has the potential and is very strong mentally. He plays big, it’s incredible what he did at Wimbledon beating Djokovic, since then he has grown a lot. He would also have Sinner, in Miami he showed that he is another rock mentally and that he wants to be the leader. This Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry is very good for tennis.
Imagine the top5 in 3-4 years, who do you see up there?
Alcaraz and Sinner for sure […] Well, there may be many there, I hope I am one of them (laughs). Juncheng Shang, Martín Landaluce, Ben Shelton… there are several names that are playing very well and are rising. They all have a similar level, what will mark the future of each one will be consistency, chaining several consecutive weeks at the highest level is the key. There are players who win a tournament and then go a month and a half without winning a match. Regularity is essential.
How do you work on patience at these ages?
Everything has its space and its moment. Right now I am #280, so I have to reach a good level to overcome the Challenger stage, I have to take advantage of these moments and learn. You have to understand each phase, then the ATP 250, the ATP 500 will come, until you reach the top. I want to go through all the steps of the pyramid.
Just a year ago, around this time, you weren’t even in the top 800. You don’t go slow.
(Laughs) I’m happy with my results, but I always want more. I want to reach the top 150 as quickly as possible, like the rest of my teammates. We all work in that direction, with the same objectives, but I don’t compare myself to anyone either. In my head the only thing I can do is continue working with my team, the results will come.
Is it true that you were about to go to university?
Yes Yes. I made the decision after Rio, because he had a proposal from the University of Virginia, but that tournament changed everything. I was #650 in the world and in one week I was #340, it changed my perspective completely. I couldn’t say no to professionalism, it was something very big for the ranking and also for my head.
You had a hard time choosing from what I see.
It was a very difficult decision, I am aware of how important university is and the experience you have there. I always advise all young people to have an open mind to study, then they have a lot of time to be professionals. Even if it’s just for a year, then you can change course. It cost me a lot, but I am happy with my decision. My family also accepted it, they have never put any pressure on me.
No pressure, let’s go with the quick round.
Let’s go!
Favorite tournament.
Rio Open and Wimbledon.
Favorite hit.
Right.
Favorite surface.
Clay land.
Your best victory
Against Arthur Fils, this year in Rio.
Win a Grand Slam or be Nº1?
Win a Grand Slam.
Win a Grand Slam or Olympic Gold?
Olympic gold.
Your strongest opponent, the toughest you’ve ever played against.
Alex Molcan. We played last year in the Rio tournament, I was very young, so that match was very difficult for me. I lost 6-0, 6-3.
What music do you listen to?
I listen to rap, both international and Brazilian, but I like a little bit of everything.
A hobby beyond tennis?
I like to play video games with my friends, go out to eat with them. We also play a lot of poker, even online when he catches me in tournaments.
Best friend on the circuit.
I have many, I couldn’t tell you. I have been friends with all the Brazilians since I went to the Davis Cup, but I would say Felipe Meligeni and Pedro Sakamoto.
And with the Spanish?
I have a good relationship with Martín Landaluce. With Carlos (Alcaraz) too, when we meet we always talk. The truth is that I have a good relationship with all the players.
What is the best thing that Brazil has?
The tourist spots, without a doubt. For me, Rio is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The beaches, the climate, the people… it is one of the best cities to live in.
And from Spain?
I don’t know much about Spain, but you have something that you don’t have much of in Brazil: the markets. The other day they took me to the San Miguel market and I loved the tradition, the Iberian ham is impressive, very good food.
As a good Brazilian, I imagine you are a football fan.
I’m from Flamengo, although in Europe I like Real Madrid.
Best footballer in history?
Leo Messi.
Not Ronaldinho?
Messi, Messi.
Best tennis player in history?
Roger Federer, there is no doubt.
Maybe in 20 years it will be another…
Exactly, it could be someone else. Maybe it’s Carlos, maybe Sinner… I really think he’ll still be Roger (laughs).
Tell me a goal for this season.
It is my first professional season, so the goal is to gain experience, make the most of each tournament I play and observe every detail well. I want to see if this is really what I want in my life.
And a dream?
Win Wimbledon.
How do you like Wimbledon!
There is a lot of class in that place: it is played on grass, everyone in white, the flowers, every detail taken care of to the maximum… it is a tournament different from the others. For me it would be a dream.
Roger didn’t do badly there…
I’ll ask him (laughs).
2024-04-12 19:52:15
#turn #cell #phone #tournaments
