MUTUA MADRID OPEN

April 24, 2025

Joao Fonseca

Press Conference

J. FONSECA/E. Moller

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: We'll start in English and then a couple in Spanish. Joao, how did you like the atmosphere on the Manolo Santana Stadium today?

JOAO FONSECA: First time on Manolo Santana Stadium, and felt really great. I mean, started a little bit more nervous than usual. It was first round, I knew the guy I was playing he was playing good this week, he just won a challenger, went through quallies and did pretty well. So I knew it was going to be a difficult match, but happy the way that I fought today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. This is just your fourth Masters 1000 tournament, and I'm just wondering how comfortable do you feel in this setting, does everything feel normal to you at this point or not yet?

JOAO FONSECA: I mean, I just said before, I mean, I'm getting more used to those kind of tournaments and the stadiums. I already said in the other interview that today I was a little bit more experienced than the other guy. It's difficult to say that because I was younger than him, but I already knew how it was to play on big stadiums, and I think it was his first time and he was a little bit more nervous.

But, yeah, I'm feeling a little bit more like, more like of a routine, you know, feeling more adapt on those courts, so, yeah, I think that's it.

Q. We know about the huge power that you have, and as well today some really nice dropshots, one which got you a break in the first set. I wondered how important that shot is to you, and whether it's something you work on a lot.

JOAO FONSECA: I mean, I work a lot on it when I'm playing on clay. It's difficult to do sometimes like Carlos on hard court, but on clay it's a very good shot.

Q. Why so much on clay?

JOAO FONSECA: Why so much on clay? Because people stay more defensive, more like five meters from the baseline. I like to go for the shots, so sometimes I like to move a lot with my forehand, and then the guys are more like five meters from the baseline. And then sometimes to, I don't know, he thinks that I'm going for the shot, and sometimes the dropshot is very good, but it needs to be done at the right time.

Q. If you can look ahead to your next match with Tommy Paul, he's one of the Americans who actually likes to play on clay, how do you see that matchup?

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah, I know that he likes to play on clay. I know it's going to be a difficult match. I already practiced with him once, it was here in Madrid, and last year. Yeah, excited for the match, I know it's going to be difficult. Tomorrow I'll prepare, think about the match, focus on the training, talk to my team about the strategy, and go for it on Saturday.

Q. Your opponent today, he said one of the hardest things about being a tennis player is having to give like post-match on-court interviews and that sort of thing.

JOAO FONSECA: Sorry, can you repeat?

Q. Your opponent today, he said one of the hardest things or worse things for him about being a tennis player was doing on-court interviews. He said he got quite nervous doing it. I wonder how you find that side of things, especially like after you won a title, how you found it, did you prepare for what you were going to say, or did you kind of just let it all come out?

JOAO FONSECA: I mean, there was a time that I was very shy, and I wasn't speaking very good English, even Spanish. Portuguese, yes, but I was still very nervous when I was talking to the camera and to a lot of people.

But, I mean, when you're a tennis player or soccer player you need to adapt about those things. You need to talk, although you're talking very bad. So, yeah, I never like prepare very much what I need to say, I'm very spontaneous. But at the same time I know that I need to thank some people, to say some words. So, yeah, that's what I can say, but now I'm very more used to this, so I can talk a little bit more and express myself.