Fonseca makes a bold move: "I know anything can happen: I can lose on my debut, I can win the title"

At 18 years old, Joao Fonseca has become accustomed to living with pressure. The type of pressure that amplifies every outcome, good or bad, and stirs discussions on social media and throughout his country, Brazil, eager for a new idol, someone to revive the successes of Guga Kuerten. In the midst of a learning season, his first full year on the professional circuit, Joao faces Wimbledon 2025 with eagerness and excitement, but also aware that the nearly infinite stamina he boasted in the first quarter of the year has dwindled as the months have passed.

It's natural in the progression of a diamond in the rough, but if anything, Fonseca knows he must continue to trust in hard work. In his talent. This is expressed in an insightful conversation with The Guardian, where he articulates well how these tumultuous recent months have been and despite them, he shows ambition: "I know there will be tough weeks. In the early weeks of the clay court tour, I wasn't playing at my best. I began playing much better at Roland Garros. I know anything is possible. I can lose in the first round. I can win the tournament. I need to stay focused match after match. I hope to continue achieving great things." A blend of determination and acceptance that the past few months have not been perfect... with Wimbledon as the next major goal.

Within 2025 so far, Joao's great highlight was his first ATP title in Buenos Aires, a triumph that came with its share of challenges: he defeated four Argentinians in Argentina on his path to the title. "That is very difficult because the crowd is super loud, and I had to overcome many tough situations. Navone had four match points and served to win it, for example. That week was very important for my maturity and experience. At that time, people thought: 'Okay, the kid is good, he is talented, hits the ball very hard, but let's see if he has the mentality and physicality'. I won the title precisely because of those two things. It was important for myself, I realized that I am ready to fight until the last point."

BREATHING EXERCISES, FEDERER, AND STEPPING AWAY FROM PHONES

The truth is, Fonseca is not a typical 18-year-old. There are aspects of his personality that completely set him apart from Generation Z... and yes, his very limited dependence on the mobile phone is one of them. "My parents have always encouraged me to go out, to stay away from social media and phones. We have a house in the mountains, surrounded by nature, and we do a lot of cycling. I love going there with my brothers and friends. I know my generation is hooked on the phone, so that helped me. I like using it, of course, but I no longer use social media. I know when I should pick up the phone and when not to."

The ban on social media has accelerated Fonseca's maturity, but it has not completely shielded him from the challenges any teenager would face after such an early eruption. How to deal with pressure remains a focal point of his team's work, one of the aspects that, as Joao confesses, he dedicates most time to: "My coach has always told me that I thrive under pressure. Sometimes I get very nervous, but at other times, pressure makes my heart race and I play better. You have to adapt and when nerves come, find a way to win," admits Joao, who has a very powerful ally.

"I do a lot of breathing exercises. Sometimes they have helped me. All this comes with experience and maturity: it's going to help me be a better player and a better person," notes the Brazilian, aware of the media buzz surrounding him in his country. He has never held back when talking about his compatriot Kuerten, but he never hides: his great idol also had a one-handed backhand, like Guga... but he was Swiss, not Brazilian.

"When ON signed me, I already had his shoes... and it was because of Roger. I wanted to meet him. I have never crossed paths with him yet, but I hope to meet him soon, hopefully. Roger was extremely talented. He hit the ball with such ease... and is a very down-to-earth person: I love watching his interviews, how he expresses himself, his charisma." Surely, 2025 will provide him with one of the best moments of his life: he is signed up for the Laver Cup, an ideal opportunity to chat in person with his idol. Until then, Joao is gearing up for greater goals... and perhaps Wimbledon will witness the next tournament where the circuit's shining star puts on a new exhibition.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fonseca apuesta fuerte: "Sé que todo puede pasar: puedo perder en mi debut, puedo ganar el título"