RIO DE JANEIRO/WASHINGTON, February 22, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
From the time Brazilian Joao Fonseca was introduced and walked out on the Quadra Guga Kuerten red clay surface at the Jockey Club Brasileiro to the cheers of Brazilian fans at the Rio Open presented by Claro Wednesday afternoon, there was a look of calm in the 17-year-old teenager’s face. His demeanor suggested he had a sense of purpose for being there. Fonseca was determined to win – and he did just that.
The 655th-ranked wild card from Rio de Janeiro upset No. 7 seed Arthur Fils of France, all of 19, in a battle of teenagers to garner his first ATP Tour victory. Fonseca triumphed over the 36th-ranked Fils, 6-0, 6-4, in 90 minutes to advance to the next round of the year’s first ATP 500 event on clay.
Fonseca showed he belonged in the spotlight and his poise and maturity suggest there are many more good days ahead for him.
Don’t forget his name 🤩
Joao Fonseca records his first ATP Tour victory at home against Fils 6-0 6-4. 🇧🇷@RioOpenOficial | #RioOpen10Anos pic.twitter.com/I0M9tppOsg
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 21, 2024
As Fonseca secured match point, he methodically dropped down to the damp red clay – one knee at a time – and with his racquet still in his hands, he looked to the twilight sky as the crowd applauded wildly. Then, he wrapped his head in his arms to savor the moment. Soon, after Fonseca rose, he took a deep breath and began to smile and walked toward the net. He shared an embrace with Fils, last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals runner up.
Next, it was time for Fonseca to celebrate with his team, his family and his friends. Then, as he walked back to his bench, Fonseca tossed his fuchsia-colored cap and his sweatband into the crowd. Finally, he signed the camera lens “Te Amo Rio (I love you Rio)”, complete with a ❤️ and his autograph.
During his on-court interview with ATP Media, Fonseca, the first player born in 2006 to win a tour-level match said:
“I am so happy. It couldn’t be better than this to get my first win 10 minutes away from my house and with all my friends, all my family watching. It’s very special and let’s go for another one in the second round.”
Special night. Special talent 💫
17-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca was FLAWLESS to secure a first-ever ATP win! pic.twitter.com/TLTzPZYTDh
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 21, 2024
Looking back, from first ball to last ball, Fonseca was in the zone and he took quick control of his first-round match against Fils, breaking him in three consecutive service games en route to winning the opening set 6-0.
“I was focused on making every ball. Obviously I was nervous, I was shaking, but I wanted so much to win, I made it,” he said.
By the end, Fonseca didn’t seem too nerved after he was unable to close out the victory against Fils on his first two match-point opportunities. It finally came in his third try, when Fils sent a sixth-shot backhand return long.
Joao Fonseca (photo: Rio Open/Fotojump)
“I knew it was going to be a tough match but the pressure was on his side so I tried to work with that. I tried to keep my intensity since the first point,” Fonseca said during his post-match news conference Wednesday evening. “I played really well on the first set and I knew he was going to be a bit nervous playing against a younger opponent. …
“The last few months I was so focused on my progress and this is the result. I am a lot more mature and this is where I belong. I want to be in these huge stadiums.”
“Joao did everything good today, he didn’t have any weaknesses,” Fils said after the match. “I tried to go on his forehand, on his backhand, he was answering every question I was asking. He’s a great player has a great future in front of him.”
Fonseca will get his chance on Quadra Guga Kuerten, again, when he faces No. 88 Cristian Garin in a featured match Thursday evening. The Chilean, who won the Rio Open title in 2020, advanced with a 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3 win over No. 66 Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain on Tuesday night. A win would advance Fonseca into the quarterfinal round about either No. 56 Yannick Hanfmann of Germany or 113th-ranked qualifier Mariano Navone of Argentina.
“The match against Garin will be another tough one, but I think I’m prepared,” Fonseca said. “I’m at home and have my family and friends here to support me so hopefully I’ll try to enjoy the moment and let’s see what happens.”
‘This is where I belong; I want to be in these huge stadiums’
Joao Fonseca, everyone 👏#RioOpen10Anos pic.twitter.com/mbA9DGvMCu
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 21, 2024
During the past year, after making his ATP Tour debut in Rio in a 6-0, 6-3 loss to Slovakian Alex Molcan, Fonseca won the US Open boys’ singles title and finished as World No. 1 in the junior rankings. He also served as a hitting partner for Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev at last November’s Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
Currently, Fonseca is participating in the Next Gen Accelerator Program, which provides the world’s best junior players with an opportunity to compete on the ATP Challenger Tour. He will receive eight main draw playing opportunities for ATP Challenger Tour 50 and 75 events.
Before the Rio Open, Fonseca began the season by playing in a trio of ATP Challenger events. He reached the semifinals in the Buenos Aires-1 Challenger in early January before losing a pair of first-round matches at Challengers in Buenos Aires-2 and at Punta del Este in Uruguay.
With a bright future ahead of him, Fonseca is quick to grasp what this week has meant to him. “I’ve been coming to the Rio Open since the first edition and this makes this win even more special to me,” he said. ” I know this was a big step, but it’s not over yet. I’m happy but I want more and more and hopefully keep going in the tournament. I want to reach the top and that’s what I’m focused on.”
There’s no place like home. 🇧🇷#RioOpen10Anos pic.twitter.com/A9pJiZ4yBY
— Rio Open (@RioOpenOficial) February 21, 2024
