Fonseca: "People have started to know who I am, I keep working to achieve my dream"

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"The sky is the limit," said a Joao Fonseca, both happy and exhausted after finishing his match with a comeback against Mariano Navone at the ATP Buenos Aires 2025. In a press conference mostly in Spanish, the 18-year-old Brazilian revealed his feelings after the victory, how he has evolved in his style of play, and also commented on the pressure that comes from big names on the circuit.

"Tennis matches are like that. I think the only moment I was in charge of the match was at 6-5. These are the matches that strengthen you as a person, as a player. We work every day for this type of encounter. I didn't start playing too well at the beginning, but I found my way, stepping out of my comfort zone and continued in that manner until the moment I had to serve for the match. I played with courage, I am happy with how I mentally approached it because it was tough. Mariano is a great player, very hardworking and fights a lot, so I knew I had to stay in the match, and I am happy with the victory."

The emotion after the victory

"I felt relief; I knew how tough the match was, how important it would be for me and my growth. I have lost many matches of this kind in the past, matches where you have to hang in there, be mentally stronger. Even if I don't play my best tennis, these are the matches that make you stronger. I want to play more, I want the title, but this match has strengthened me as a person. I am very proud of myself. I wanted to play more aggressively than him; my opponent plays more passively, runs more on the court. I think he likes that style, given these conditions. It has been tough conditions, stopping the match, resuming it."

On the way to his big dream

"From the beginning of my professional career, things have happened very quickly. I grew as a junior, then as a professional. Last year I was ranked 700th in the world, finished in the top 120, now I am around 90. Many things have happened. People have started to know who Joao Fonseca is. I am happy with all that, with how things are unfolding. I have to work harder and harder to achieve my dream, which is to be the number one in the world. I hope that one day I can win a title, I keep working hard for that, being humble, with confidence; the results will come, the titles will come."

On his aggressive style

"It's been my way of playing since I was a child; I like to go for the shot, make winners. The only one who has been telling me since I was young not to hold back, to play aggressively, is my coach. I met him when I was 12. When I was young, I would just hit the ball very fast. Sometimes I'd go for a winner, other times to the net. I lost many matches like that because I lacked patience. He's the only one who kept telling me to keep working on that, but solidly. We looked at some things, but it's my way of playing, being aggressive in crucial points, and I think things are going well."

Comparisons with other greats and the pressure

"I feel motivated to keep playing not only because of legends from my country. There are great players who have already talked about me. There is some pressure, but it's a good pressure, and I believe I am on the right path, doing the right things, thinking internally, not about what they talk about externally, whether I will be the next Guga or not. I think everyone has their timing. I don't like those comparisons. It's not that I'm better or doing things faster. The sky is the limit," asserted the Brazilian to the media.

"I have two older brothers, so that helped me to be a bit more mature. I have many friends who are older than me, who are in university in the United States, who play tennis. They go out and all. I think my social life is very good; I like to spend time with my family; when I'm in Rio, I like to play poker and video games. I have a social life beyond tennis. Tennis is what I love; it is my life."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fonseca: "La gente ha empezado a saber quién soy, sigo trabajando para conseguir mi sueño"