THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2025

Joao Fonseca

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Joao, how have you been feeling on the grass so far?

JOAO FONSECA: For sure a new experience. I would say every year that I play, I'm getting more experience on the grass. It's very different from the other surface.

Of course, I'm liking it. I'm playing good. Doing some great matches. On grass you need to focus a lot more on your service games and the opportunities that you have.

So, yeah, the last two matches that I lost, it was very detailed. But I feeling good. I'm playing some good tennis. Yeah, getting new experience.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Yesterday you practiced with Carlos Alcaraz, a great practice session. You were talking a lot at the changeovers. Were you asking him for advice, opinions, or were you discussing who has the strongest forehand?

JOAO FONSECA: No, just talking about life. Of course, about tennis some things, but more about life. You don't normally have this opportunity to ask some things, not only to him but for his coach or brother, whatever, about his life, where is his base or everything.

Yeah, I was just asking him more questions than I usually ask. Yeah, it was a nice training and a nice talk.

Q. What were your thoughts when you drew a Brit in Jacob Fearnley? Do you think the British crowd will get as loud as the Brazilian fans do for you?

JOAO FONSECA: It's difficult to be as loud the Brazilians (smiling). But yeah, hopefully there's going to be some Brazilians looking up and cheering for me.

But for sure it's going to be a good match. Jacob is a nice friend and a nice player. Even on Court 1, it's just going to be a dream playing my first match here in Wimbledon.

Yeah, like I said, every week for me has been an experience. I'm just enjoying every week. There's a lot of first tries for me, first times for me. Yeah, I'm just going to enjoy a lot.

Q. Do you remember the first time you maybe saw Wimbledon on TV or a big moment from Wimbledon that has really stayed with you?

JOAO FONSECA: The first time, I don't know. But for me the biggest moment was when I watched Federer and Djokovic, the final where Federer lost in 2019. Yeah, that's what I remember. Yeah, I was cheering for Federer (smiling).

Q. This tournament Wimbledon is considered one of the most prestigious sport events in the world, especially Europe. What is your Brazilian perspective? How important this tournament for you?

JOAO FONSECA: Well, for me this tournament is a dream. Everything you can see is perfect. Even the flowers. Every detail is just perfect. When you come here, you just see how amazing it is.

Yeah, it's just a dream come true. It's for sure my favorite Grand Slam because of the culture and, I mean, the history of Wimbledon. Every kid that plays tennis and want to be a professional wants to come here.

Yeah, of course, Brazil has the history of Roland Garros and everything. Here is just special.

Q. Your first time at Wimbledon. What were your expectations? What is about the biggest challenge coming here for you?

JOAO FONSECA: Expectations are good. On grass you don't have very much of weeks to get the experience. You need to adapt at the time that you have.

I mean, I have good expectations. I'm playing good. I'm making some good practices. Yeah, my mental is good, my confidence. I'm just going to enjoy.

Yeah, I think that's it. Just enjoy playing tennis and do my best to achieve good things.

Q. When you first came to Wimbledon at all, how did it compare to the expectations you had from seeing it on TV, like the atmosphere and the whole tournament site? Were you surprised?

JOAO FONSECA: I was surprised by the details. I knew it was beautiful, but I mean, every detail is just amazing. Yeah, when I went to the court yesterday, Court 1 where I'm playing, I just saw how amazing it is to be out there. Like, am I going to play right there?

I stayed like five minutes just appreciating the moment right there. It's just unbelievable to see everything and come here. When I was a kid, it was just like dreaming to come. Now I'm playing here, so yeah.

Q. What do you consider the most difficult part of being a teenager on tour?

JOAO FONSECA: The most difficult part? I mean, to understand that you need time to have experience like the other players. Not because you had a great career as a junior, you're going to be an excellent pro player. It takes time to understand this. The mental part is very different. How the pros play is very different also.

Yeah, sometimes you're going to play your best tennis, and you're even going to lose to some great players because, I mean, tennis is a sport with opportunities. If you don't take the opportunity, you're going to lose the match.

So even when you're playing good, you can lose the match. So, I mean, you need to understand those things. Yeah, it takes time to understand. I'll say that's the difference. That's the most difficult part of a teenager.

Q. How much confidence do you take from the fact that obviously this is your first full grass court season? Last year you played Wimbledon qualifying. You played against Taylor Fritz last week, lost a tight match. Do you take any positives from that confidence, because he's experienced on this surface, as well?

JOAO FONSECA: For sure. You need to, like I said to the question before, you need to understand that it takes time for the experience. The service game is very important here on grass. You need to understand this. You need to stay focused a lot on your service games.

Taylor Fritz, he's a very good server. I mean, sometimes you going to have the opportunity, like you're going to have a 30-40, but he's going to do ace or whatever. You can't get frustrated about those moments. You just need to focus on the next point, the next opportunity.

Yeah, every match you need to take something positively. Yeah, from this match it was about, yeah, the mental part of the service games, yeah.

Q. Did you watch the Alcaraz-Sinner French Open final?

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah.

Q. What was your reaction to that? Is it inspiring to see that or at all intimidating?

JOAO FONSECA: For sure it was inspiring. Two of the best players right now. Yeah, what Carlos did about the mental part, how he could stay mentally. Sinner was playing very good tennis. Carlos was kind of a little bit more nervous and kind of he was not having opportunities. Sinner was, like, smashing the ball.

There was an important game that he could break. He got the level up. Then after Sinner got a little bit more tight. Everything from this match, you have a lot of learnings. Yeah, it just inspire you to where you want to achieve, where you want to go.

So it was inspiring match, and I learned very much from this match.

Q. When you lose to somebody who then goes on to win the tournament, get the trophy, does that change your perspective about your result or your performance or how that event went for you? Does it make you feel better about it?

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah, sometimes yes. I mean, I lost a tough match against Fritz. He won the tournament for the fourth time. I mean, it makes you feel good because you did a very tight match. But it actually doesn't matter because if I won that match, I needed to win three more to win the tournament. I could have lose, or I could have won also.

At the same time, to see that I'm in the level right there playing against a top-five player and making a good match, it's good for my confidence for sure.