Fonseca aims at his next goal: "I want to be seeded in the Australian Open"

Carlos Navarro | 27 Oct 2025 | 19.29

Joao Fonseca reveals his next big goal. Source: Getty

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Joao Fonseca was undoubtedly the major protagonist at the ATP circuit last week. He didn't arrive in great form at Basel, especially after a tough loss in his debut in Brussels against Botic van de Zandschulp, but the Brazilian showcased all his talent during a week in which, though benefiting from some withdrawals, he was absolutely dominant in his final two matches (against Munar in the semifinals and Davidovich in the final).

This victory could even be described as soothing. The season of Joao Fonseca, at 19 years old, was already highly noteworthy before the 2025 ATP Basel: he had clinched his first ATP title, victories in all Grand Slams, firmly established in the top 50... but the steep progression curve that some predicted stopped as the demands and strains of his first full year on the circuit began to take a toll. Thus, winning in Basel is a perfect springboard to continue impressing in 2026, a victory that he credits to ESPN to his mindset, the vital aspect on which he relied to overcome every challenge.

Fonseca aims for the Australian Open as the next challenge and highlights how special it was to triumph in Basel, the home of his idol

- A very special week due to the setting and the manner of winning

"This week is very special for me, even though I didn't play the second round due to my opponent's withdrawal and Shapovalov withdrew in the quarterfinals. It was a very positive week: I seized the opportunities that came my way. I didn't allow my opponents to snatch this title from me; my team and I genuinely desired it. We skipped the Asian tour this year for my body to recover, to take care of myself because I was unwell, and we wanted to preserve my physical and mental health.

Being here and seizing this opportunity was very important to me. This is a special title, especially this event, known as "Roger's tournament" in Brazil. Winning here, at Federer's home, my idol, is truly unique. My family, my agent, and my uncles are all here; it's very special, and I am very happy."

- A mental shift explaining the success in Basel

"I felt pressure before starting this tournament. It has been a week in which my team and I, right from the beginning, had the right mindset. We stayed very united despite a very tough first round in Brussels, a match where I didn't serve well. However, we kept working. We arrived in Basel early and trained beforehand in everything I needed to improve. As a result, I served exceptionally throughout the tournament.

I am very happy about this change in mindset and how I managed the pressure. It was similar to what happened in Buenos Aires, in my first title, when I faced four Argentinians. The pressure was high, so the mindset had to be very good, and I think I dealt with everything very well. For example, in the semifinals, Munar had a much better ranking than me for a 500 semifinal. He is a very consistent, solid opponent; it was a very tough match, with a lot of pressure and tension, and I was able to pull through."

- Now, the challenge of Paris and a major goal for the 2026 Australian Open

"Focusing on the indoor hard court circuit was the right decision, despite it historically being a difficult tour for us as we don't have indoor hard and fast courts in Brazil. Training for this time of year is challenging, whereas Europeans play a lot on these types of courts and know how to handle tennis, a faster type of tennis. It's similar to grass; you don't have much room. Therefore, experiencing indoor courts this season was crucial for us, a priority.

It has been very important, and I am happy with the decision we made. Everything we have done this year has been carefully planned, with a very well-structured start to the year. I didn't play the Shangai Masters 1000 because we prioritized my well-being. At the beginning of the season, the goal was to play all Grand Slams. We adjusted my goals as the season progressed; I went to my coach and said I wanted to be seeded at the upcoming Australian Open, and now I leave here on the 28th or 27th, I don't remember. Now it's time to travel to Paris with a new mindset. The circuit is a sprint race; in two days, I'll be playing in a new tournament. Let's go all out."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fonseca apunta hacia su próximo objetivo: "Quiero ser cabeza de serie en el Open de Australia"