The advice from Sinner that changed the fate of Joao Fonseca

And are you more of a Sinner or an Alcaraz fan? Although we may not like this type of question much, it is normal for any child of the next generation to ask it if they ever get close to tennis. In fact, this question has even resonated among the younger players in the locker room, like Joao Fonseca. The Brazilian, born in 2006, is eagerly looking forward to competing in the #NextGen ATP Finals at the end of the season, but first, he sat down with his colleagues at ATP to reveal who his favorite player in the elite circle is. Will it be Sinner or Alcaraz? In this case, the Italian is the one who wins the prize for being the apple of the eye of the Rio de Janeiro native.

“There have been many great players who have won the title, a tournament that I always love to follow, although in this edition, the one I most look forward to seeing is Jannik Sinner, there is something about him that I see in myself,” Fonseca assures when asked about the upcoming edition of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. “I really like his aggressive style of play; technically, the way he plays so aggressively is truly my style. Now mentally he is a bit calmer, he is a shy guy, but I love the way he competes. He is not too expressive, so in that aspect, he is also similar to me,” enthusiastically compares the South American tennis player, currently on the verge of breaking into the top 150 in the world.

The thing is, Fonseca's passion for Sinner is not unfounded. Beyond the fact that the Italian is currently the one to beat, the best player of the season, one of the major attractions on the circuit, and a role model for beginners, Fonseca indeed has a good story up his sleeve to share. Like Lolita on 'Your Face Sounds Familiar,' this time the anecdote gives full meaning to the fondness that Joao feels for the current World No. 1.

“The first time I interacted with Jannik was last year at the Nitto ATP Finals; I was there that week as a hitting partner for the players, and we trained during the first few days. I discovered he was a very nice guy. I remember talking to him about my idea of going to college, to which he replied: ‘You are too good for this; try to go pro.’ That was very nice, although I thought he was pulling my leg or joking (laughs). That was the first time I trained with him; his whole team was very nice to me,” reminisces the excited Rio-born Brazilian.

HIS GREATEST SUPPORT

But beyond his preferences within the circuit and his aspirations, it is crucial for Fonseca to have support to lean on in this meteoric growth he has experienced in 2024. A 17-year-old who started the year ranked #727 in the world and now is already eyeing the top 100. Nothing is by chance when we hear him say that Gustavo Kuerten is one of his role models and that his family represents the most important piece of the puzzle. Good values, a close-knit environment, proper role models, and a talent overflowing with a forehand that will make waves in the next decade.

“Gustavo Kuerten is pure inspiration, an idol, a very nice person who has said some very nice things about me. Of course, my father is another idol for me, he helped me a lot in my career, and I am forever grateful to him, as well as to my mother. In the end, my father is also my manager, so he takes care of all my things. Having my parents work with me is very nice; they always encourage me and help me with all aspects of the circuit,” concludes the man who is competing in the Challenger de Brest this week.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El consejo de Sinner que cambió el destino de Joao Fonseca