ROLAND GARROS

May 22, 2026

Joao Fonseca

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Joao, welcome back to Paris. I know you had to pull out of Hamburg because of the wrist. So how is it doing right now?

JOAO FONSECA: Feeling much better. I mean, it was nothing that serious to worry about it. We were just, like, of course focusing on French Open, and I mean, French Open coming, we just wanted to rest a little bit, focus on full recovery.

Yeah, I'm already practicing 100%, feeling good on court. Yeah, excited to play here again.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. I don't have a very serious question, so I'm sorry. I know you're a dog person.

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah.

Q. I feel like every player has a dog on tour now. I know you don't travel with yours, but can you understand the benefits if your dog was here at the end of the day after playing a tough match? Do you understand why players have so many around now, I guess?

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah, I can imagine. I mean, the tour is tough. I'm still trying to understand that.

I can't complain. It's just my second year, but I can see that on tour you stay very much of the time alone, or you and your team, and it's very individual. Like I said, I'm still trying to understand what I can do it better. I mean, maybe hopefully my parents can come to some places, but I see some people trying to come with friends or family members, and a dog is a partner, I can see it, it's good.

It's kind of nice, you know, just to have someone just around, and it's kind of a friend, as well. Yeah, I have a dog. Yeah, I don't see I'm bringing her, because, I mean, my parents is, they're probably going to be mad, but yeah, I can see and I can understand why they bring a lot their dogs.

Q. I have been speaking to some players about their relationship with fame. Obviously different degrees of fame on tour, but I'm wondering, for you, you're quite young, but already you draw huge crowds and all that. When was the first time that you realized, Okay, I am in the spotlight and I have to maybe behave a certain way or do things a certain way? How do you feel about it now? How comfortable are you now?

JOAO FONSECA: I think the first time that I felt I was becoming a little bit more famous was after Rublev last year.

At first, my parents came to me, Joao, you're becoming a little bit more famous, and I said, Okay. For me, it's just normal. I just don't feel it. I mean, normally in Brazil, I don't walk usually, but when I went to the streets once and I saw a little bit or in the restaurant, I was still realizing, and for me, it was a little bit strange.

But yeah, nowadays, I think I'm still getting used to it, but I think the fame is going to come, I mean, hopefully I can achieve better results, better ranking, and the fame is going to come at all costs. It has their benefits, and sometimes can be a little bit, you know, when you want something quiet, and the people know you, so I need to be a little bit more careful.

But, yeah, like I said, I'm still trying to understand a little bit.

Q. What are some benefits?

JOAO FONSECA: I mean, the benefit is that you have their support. People come to the street or kids coming to say that you inspire them. They just be, like, very happy, like people, like, they say, You made my day, which is for me, it's just a simple thing, taking a picture, and for them it's something huge. That's also super nice.

Q. What would be a good French Open for you? Did you look at your draw? That will maybe help you answer my question about what would be a good French Open for you.

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah, I saw the draw, and yeah, I think a good French Open is playing good tennis, feeling good on court, play healthy and yeah, I think stay good on court, you know, trying to make my best. If I win or I lose, I just want to go out of the court that I did my best, and I think that's my mentality.

Of course I want to do for the first time fourth round, quarters, whatever. But it's a step at a time, focusing on my first round, and hopefully I can pass through.