World No. 65, Joao Fonseca, shared his thoughts on who he would like to face at the upcoming Roland Garros tournament.
“Whenever we came for Grand Slam qualifiers, I always told my coach: `If I make it into the main draw, I want to play Djokovic,`” Fonseca revealed. “Because this is probably one of the last chances. I hope I get the opportunity to play against him.”
He added, “I would be happy to meet Djokovic in the first or second round. I`ll try to show my maximum, and the result doesn`t matter. I will just enjoy the experience.”
Fonseca expressed a preference for challenging opponents. “I love playing against seeds; I like obstacles. There`s no pressure on me, so I think I can play well. I enjoy playing with fan support, and I would love to have that kind of experience. Some might choose `easy` opponents at the start, but I want to play against tennis legends.”
Addressing comparisons to Brazilian legend Gustavo Kuerten, Fonseca noted, “People call me the next Guga, saying I will win titles at Roland Garros. It`s great that they believe this, but at the same time, it creates unnecessary pressure. I need to be able to stay true to myself and write my own story. Guga achieved so much, reaching amazing success. I hope I can do at least half of that.”
Speaking about his development, he said, “I am progressing quickly. One of my goals is to reach the third round at a Grand Slam. Maybe it will happen at Roland Garros? I play great on clay; I was born and raised on it and feel confident.”
His ultimate ambition is clear. “My future goal is to become the world No. 1. It`s a dream, and I know there`s a long way ahead. I need to work even harder, move step by step.”
Gaining experience is key for the young player. “I need to gain experience. Roland Garros will be the first Slam where I get direct entry into the main draw. All of this helps me to develop, grow, and do all the necessary work. I think that is the path to achieving the highest goals,” Fonseca concluded.
