Fonseca analyzes his defeat in Rio: "I failed too much, I need to fail less"

Fernando Murciego | 20 Feb 2026 | 08.43

Fonseca analyzes his defeat in Rio: "I failed too much, I need to fail less". Source: Getty

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A tough night for Joao Fonseca at the 2026 Rio Open after falling in the round of 16 in a match that started one way and ended very differently. The Brazilian later reflected on the keys to this stumble against Ignacio Buse in three sets.

And perhaps here is where the questions begin about what happened this morning at the 2026 ATP Rio Open, on how Joao Fonseca failed to capitalize on the first set of the match against Ignacio Buse. Credit must be given to the Peruvian who never lost his composure and always trusted in his game to fight boldly against his opponent. He turned it around and, at the same time, broke the hearts of the entire tournament crowd, who were rooting for the last remaining local player in the singles draw. As the clock struck 01:30 AM and the venue was nearly empty, Fonseca stepped into the mixed zone to share his thoughts, as captured by the colleagues from Tenis News.

“I think I had a good first set, although I didn't push hard for it, the break I got was more due to his mistakes than my merits. The truth is, from that point on, he was better than me, and I couldn't find my game again. I had many opportunities during the second and third sets, but at this level, if you don't seize them, you end up paying for it. It should be noted that he gained a lot of confidence while I loosened up a bit, that's all,” commented the 19-year-old player after bidding farewell with a score of 5-7, 6-3, and 6-4.

“I am aware that all of this is part of a process, now I need to keep working and evolve as a player. I know I still have a lot of room for improvement. What went wrong today? Well, I would say I made too many mistakes, I need to make fewer mistakes. There were occasions where I did silly things, but even this is part of the process. Obviously, I am very sad after this defeat,” added the Brazilian, who had already suffered a significant setback in the ATP Buenos Aires and couldn't turn the tide here.

Joao Fonseca, eliminated in the 2026 Rio Open. Source: Getty

Joao Fonseca turns to philosophy after defeat in the Rio Open

Looking at his numbers in this season's start – one win in four matches – it's clear that Joao Fonseca hasn't begun in 2026 as he did in 2025. The new status and external expectations have shifted the puzzle pieces, so the Brazilian will need to quickly embrace the new position he holds on the circuit. At just 19 years old, he has every right to falter, of course, though external noise threatens to offer him no respite. Judging by his words, it's crucial that Joao has a clear mindset, essential for him to work calmly without overdramatizing each loss.

“Tennis is like that, there will always be weeks where you lose, and that will change your mentality; the positive thing is that these situations push you to find solutions. I know that tomorrow I will wake up with the same desire to work. I'm still in the doubles draw, where we have formed a great partnership with Marcelo (Melo). We've been playing great tennis as a duo, so now it's time to go to sleep, reflect on everything that has happened, and move forward,” concluded the No. 38 in the rankings.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fonseca analiza su derrota en Río: “Fallé demasiado, necesito fallar menos”