Agassi, delighted with Fonseca: "He caught my attention from the moment I saw him"

Although he may not be the one who appears most in the media, the truth is that Andre Agassi often makes headlines when he decides to get closer to the press. In his recent appearance on Tennis Channel's show, we could hear the American talking about the experience he will face this summer as the captain of the #TeamWorld in the eighth edition of the Laver Cup. The Las Vegas guy will take over from a great teammate of his, John McEnroe, although he doesn't hide his initial lack of enthusiasm for the proposal.

"Honestly, when they proposed it to me, my first thought was: 'NO.' Then they mentioned that it wouldn't have to be immediate, that it would be for the next season, but I wasn’t sure if it was the right fit for me. That’s when I started to listen to the words John (McEnroe) and Björn (Borg) shared after several years in the role. I also read many opinions from the audience who had attended the event in person, the players' views on the format and their experience; little by little, I saw myself in the role. Seeing that camaraderie among so many people finally convinced me, I was completely drawn into that level of intensity," confesses the former world No. 1.

Agassi is not mistaken in labeling this Laver Cup as one of the tournaments that has needed the least time to gather all the necessary ingredients to become a significant stop on the calendar. The event has it all: an extraordinary lineup, legendary captains, team camaraderie, enthusiastic crowd, rotating venues, excellent marketing, high prize money, and a good spot in the calendar. All these elements cried out for a figure as prominent as Andre, a person who has exuded charisma in all stages of his career, even though we don’t see him on screen as much as we'd like. This summer, at the Chase Center in San Francisco, we will scratch that itch over a weekend.

"I had the chance to speak with some fans and ask them which plan they would prefer if they were to buy tickets: whether quarterfinals/semifinals of a Grand Slam or a weekend at the Laver Cup. To my surprise, many opted for the Laver Cup," explains the American during the conversation. "That was the tipping point for me; I needed somehow to experience it myself, to see that electric atmosphere firsthand. Now that I'm inside and have seen how everything works, I can only be grateful to be part of this event. Hopefully, I can help contribute to making the tournament even better and help it keep growing."

FONSECA, ONE OF THEIR OWN

Speaking of the sporting aspect, the list of champions tells us that the #TeamWorld is in good shape, as they came close last summer in Berlin to securing their third consecutive trophy. Unfortunately for them, Carlos Alcaraz prevented John McEnroe from ending his tenure as captain of the red team on a high note. Twelve months later, not only have the faces on the bench changed, but we will also see new faces on the court. With many cards still to be revealed, it's clear that Joao Fonseca has been one of the major attractions of this edition for the past few days, making his debut as a player for #TeamWorld. Agassi couldn't be happier to have him on his side.

"He caught my eye months ago; watching him play is incredible, the ease with which he hits the ball so hard from both sides, the mobility he shows on the court, or how athletic he is when competing. He's a big guy, somewhat similar to Sinner in terms of height; I couldn't believe it when I met him in person for the first time. I still find it hard to believe how he can generate that power in his shots without losing balance; this is something we also saw in the early years of Alcaraz – watching him in action is almost as incredible. I am looking forward to seeing him rise; hopefully, he can handle all that pressure on his shoulders, the expectation that is already building around him. I believe in him a lot; I know he is very professional; he seems to have more maturity than his actual age," he says with admiration.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Agassi, encantado con Fonseca: “Me llamó la atención desde que lo vi”