“We are living the present calmly” – Joao Fonseca on his rise to stardom
Fonseca has burst onto the ATP Tour this season, but remain remarkably grounded
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This time last year, few knew the name Joao Fonseca. Now, the 18-year-old Brazilian has burst into the spotlight, with many regarding him as a future star on the ATP Tour.
Fonseca’s big breakthrough came at his home tournament in Rio de Janeiro, where he powered his way to the quarter-finals of the ATP 500 event in February. Ranked No 655 in the world at the time, the teenager saw off back-to-back top-100 players in Arthur Fils and Cristian Garin, becoming the first player born in 2006 to win an ATP match, and the second-youngest to make the last eight of a 500-level event.
Since then, he’s gone on to pick up five more wins on the ATP Tour, winning his maiden Challenger title last month in Lexington as well.
But what stands out about Fonseca is how remarkably grounded he is.
“I’m 18 years old and I understand that I’m in training, that I’m a project,” the Brazilian said in a recent interview with claytenis.com. “I’m in my first months on the professional tour and I’ve learned a lot. I think a lot about the future.”
No agent, only tennis
It’s one thing to espouse such language, but it’s another to back it up. And that’s exactly what Fonseca has done, with the teenager turning down Roger Federer’s management agency, and opting not to have an agent at this stage of his career.
“We talked with my family about the idea of having an agent, but for now we are doing very well. I won’t sign with an agency yet, my agents are my parents. For now we are living the present calmly, thinking very well, because it’s a career-long thing. These are important decisions that we will think about very carefully. For now we are waiting to find the right path and make the right decision,” he explained.
“There are many expectations placed on me, but I try to stay focused on my routine as much as possible, together with people who contribute to me and who will be by my side. It is difficult, but I am focused on tennis. Not on sponsorships, not on money. Others take care of other things. Along with tennis, the results and money will come.
“I never thought much about fame. I was always very dedicated, I want to play tennis, I want to be a champion.”
Fonseca’s resolve to remain solely focused on his tennis is even more admirable, considering that he considers Federer his idol.
“Federer has been my idol since I was little. I always liked watching his matches, his classic, easy, elegant style. He is a role model,” explained Fonseca.
“I would like to know his stories, to know what happens in difficult moments. What he felt about tennis when he was my age. He is very talented, but many say that he was not very dedicated in his youth.
“I would like to hear that from him, because he could contribute and teach me many things. If I had a conversation with him, I would try to learn as much as possible.”
Fonseca sets sights on Sinner and Alcaraz
Despite currently being ranked No 157 in the world, Fonseca has lofty goals.
“I look at them in their rivalry and that’s where I want to go,” said the 18-year-old, talking about Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
“Sometimes I think, ‘I’m going to aim for the top 100, the top 50’. No. I’m going to look at them. I want to be like them. I want to win Grand Slams and other big tournaments.
“Alcaraz and Sinner serve as inspiration and motivation to keep working harder and harder.”
As a more immediate desire, Fonseca wants to be a regular participant in the biggest ATP tournaments next year. To do so, he’ll need to up his ranking to inside the top 100.
“I see myself playing in big tournaments, taking part in the Grand Slams,” he explained. “It is not a goal or an obligation in my mind, no. It is simply what I want. Everything has its time, but it is where I want to get to and where I believe I have the potential to get to.”
