Fonseca and a tough confession: "People thought I would be the next Federer, things don't work that way"

Carlos Navarro | 6 May 2026 | 17.29

This is what Fonseca said before debuting in Rome. Source: Getty

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Joao Fonseca returns to the Foro Italico while the media explosion surrounding him continues to settle, entering a process of acceptance and reflection, leaving behind the madness of past months. It is undoubtedly a positive development for the Brazilian's progression: on many occasions, Joao has stated that the noise of the public, the weight of labels, and expectations left him out of sync and cast doubts on his mentality... something he reiterated before debuting in Rome.

It is not easy for a young man of just 19 years old to bear the burden and expectations of a country that fervently desires to have a Grand Slam champion once again. When that anticipation becomes global, the mind of a teenager takes even longer to grasp it: Fonseca has no problem talking about it, admitting it, taking his time to discover, distancing himself from any label, the tough struggle and sacrifice behind a full season on the ATP circuit.

Prior to his debut at the ATP Rome 2026, the Brazilian took his time not only to delve back into how pressure clipped his wings at certain moments but also to emphasize that, in his second year playing ATP tournaments week in and week out, he still feels like a 'rookie' in various events, with the innocence of someone discovering new venues while the world already demands results.

Fonseca opened up about expectations and pressure: "They thought I would be the next Federer"

- Second time in Rome: What has changed since last year, your first time at the Foro Italico?

"I feel good to be here, no doubt. Many things have changed: first and foremost, I am a much more mature Joao. Not only technically, but I have grown physically and mentally. I feel good; it's my second full year on the circuit and I still feel like I am exploring and discovering some tournaments, like Monte Carlo, Munich, next is Hamburg... I feel really good."

It's the same surface, but the conditions are very different: first you play Monte Carlo, at sea level, but where the ball bounces quite high and is a bit faster; Munich and Madrid are at altitude, and now we return to something similar to where I usually play, a slower clay court, where you can generate more speed and the ball doesn't get out of control. I feel pretty good with my game and in training, I'm looking forward to my debut."

- Analysis of the three tournaments he has played so far in this clay tour, with quarterfinals in Monte Carlo and Munich and a defeat in his debut in Madrid

"I'm... OK with my results (smiles). I always say I can do better. There are things I can and should improve, especially mentally, but also technically. I have played very good matches; I can't complain: good fight, good experiences, and I feel, above all, that I'm learning a lot, which is truly important. Knowing where you can and should improve is vital, and I feel I know that. Now I'm focused on applying it to feel better on the court. After Madrid, I felt better on the court again, now I'm better, I had good training sessions, and I hope to perform great."

- Dealing with the pressure and expectations people placed on him:

"It was crazy for me at first, honestly. It was different. I felt the pressure from people, all the expectations, I felt like people thought I would be the next Roger Federer, almost overnight. Things don't work like that. I was trying to understand all that, but it was difficult. Now, I believe I understand that I only play for myself, that I owe nothing to people and don't play for them; I play for me."

João talks about dealing with all the attention and expectations:

"At first, it was crazy for me; it was different.
Feeling the pressure from people with expectations, thinking that I would be sort of the Roger Federer overnight.
It doesn't work like that, and I was just... pic.twitter.com/bw0xdyqygO
— João Fonseca Updates (@fonsecaupdates) May 6, 2026