ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

January 10, 2026

Joao Fonseca

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Joao, you've just announced your withdrawal from the Adelaide International. Do you want to start by talking us through the decision.

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah, I mean, unfortunately, I couldn't, I'm not able to play here. It's difficult to make this decision. I felt those days that we were practicing, I mean, every day feeling a little bit better, but it's difficult to say that I'm a hundred percent. We are trying our best to recover a hundred percent to play the Australian Open, which is our main goal. The decision is not made. We want to play, we think that it's going to be possible. So, yeah, we want to focus on the recovery, and unfortunately I couldn't play here, and I hope to come back stronger next year.

THE MODERATOR: A few questions from the room, please.

Q. Is this the back that you felt in Brisbane, the same thing?

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah, it was the same thing. I was born with something in my back and sometimes it's more tight. I already had a stress fracture five years ago, but it's something that it's going to be in my body, so I need to deal with it. Yeah, I'm just trying my best to recover. We did a MRI, and it's nothing very serious, but can be serious, so we want to be a hundred percent to play.

Q. So you've experienced this before, you know the trigger signs?

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah, we know, so, yeah, we know that it can be worse so, we are taking care of it.

Q. You still confident that you'll be right for Melbourne with the right rest and recovery?

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah, we are very confident that it's going to be... I don't know, I mean, it's science, we hope that we are going to be a hundred percent, but, yeah, there's a chance for both, and what I can say is that we are doing our best to play.

Q. Is there a certain shot or a certain movement on the court that where you feel your back or is it just an all-around thing?

JOAO FONSECA: It's more, I mean, more rotation, but, yeah, the serve. So, yeah, yesterday I practiced and I felt it a little bit, so, yeah, it's just something that we need to take care with.

Q. Even if it's in your back and it's something that's in there, do you think that maybe the length of season, there seem to be a lot of complaints that maybe it's too crowded, do you think maybe that has anything to do with your situation?

JOAO FONSECA: I don't think so because it's just the start of the season. I had pre-season and, yeah, I had time to recover, I had time to stay off of tennis. Then after pre-season, and getting ready, unfortunately it started this pain. I don't think that's the reason, I mean the ATP schedule, that was the reason that I'm injured.

Yeah, I see a lot of players complaining about the crowded schedule of the year. I can't complain, it's just my second year playing the tour. So, yeah, for now I'm just enjoying every tournament and getting to experience some new places. Yeah, I think that's it.