Fonseca points out the key to success on grass after achieving his first victory

Although the recent performances of Joao Fonseca have not been as successful as some might have expected, we cannot deny the reality of facing a young man who possesses outstanding qualities to reach the tennis elite in the medium term. On clay, we have no doubts, but what about grass? Time will tell, but for now, this week we can enjoy his tennis at the ATP 250 in Eastbourne, where he secured his first official victory on this surface by turning around an adverse scoreline against Zizou Bergs (6-7, 6-0, 6-3). Let's quickly hear his reflections in an interview with TennisTV after the win.

"I am very happy to have won my first ATP match on grass," Fonseca stated. "Moreover, I achieved it in such a pleasant place like Eastbourne, a legendary tournament. I faced a great opponent, I think the score speaks for itself. The first set tiebreak was really tight, but I was mentally strong, and fortunately, managed to pull it off. I am very proud of my performance, pleased with how I played," added the Brazilian, who faced up to 14 aces from the Belgian player but eventually managed to piece together the puzzle to raise his fist in a match that lasted over two hours.

"Maybe there were some lucky moments for me, there were balls I had to hit a bit blindly due to the sun, but it felt excellent to break and lead 2-0 in the second set; from then on, things became a bit easier for me," Fonseca contrasted. He ended up dominating all service aspects after the second and third sets. "Gradually, I left some problems behind, feeling more confident in my tennis. Once we got to the third set, I believe we were both somewhat nervous, so I tried to hold my serve until I could get the break. Here on grass, it is crucial to stay focused on every point," revealed the 18-year-old player.

A MATCH SHAPED LIKE AN EXAM

Now ranked among the top 60, Fonseca's journey since the beginning of the season has been very positive considering his age. Of course, he will have phases of winning fewer matches, but at 18 years old, we have already seen him win matches at various Grand Slams and clinch his first ATP title in Buenos Aires. In Eastbourne, he became the youngest player to win a match in an ATP 250 tournament since Taylor Fritz did so in 2015. And do you know who his opponent will be in the round of 16? Yes, the American champion.

"Of course, he'll be the favorite, especially on this surface and in this tournament where he won the title last year," declared the Brazilian, who currently holds a 1-1 record against top 10 opponents. It will be the first time he faces Fritz, one of the clear grass court specialists in recent times. But don't think Fonseca is afraid of the challenge. "I am facing it with excitement, feeling good; it will be a great experience. Hopefully, the crowd will also contribute a lot; I hope to see some Brazilian flags in the stands, that would be fantastic," concluded the number 57 in the rankings.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fonseca señala la clave para triunfar en hierba tras lograr su primera victoria