THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2026

Joao Fonseca

Press Conference

R. SAFIULLIN/J. Fonseca

6-3, 6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Joao, bad luck today. Could you just give us your initial thoughts on the match, please.

JOAO FONSECA: Thanks. Well, it was a tough match since the beginning. He was putting a lot of pressure. He's a guy that likes to conduct the point. He was doing pretty well the beginning of the points, return serves.

So, yeah, I think I didn't play bad. Of course I had some opportunities during the match to let him think a little bit more and let him play more points. But, yeah, I tried to do my best.

Yeah, I think it was a great run here again. And hopefully, yeah, I mean, I think I'm improving on grass and that motivates me to keep going. So now rest and go again.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Sorry for the result today. I was wondering, obviously the grass swing isn't particularly very long, and for you, it's a matter of gaining experience over the years, or you need to make some technical adjustments to perfect your craft on this particular surface?

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah, I mean, grass season is very short. Actually, when I stay more time on grass, you can see last year, as well, in the beginning I was not playing good, and then after, I started playing better during the weeks, during the days on the grass. Yeah, this year, the same.

But also, because I think the first weeks on grass, they're faster than here in Wimbledon. Here is much more slow and you can do more rallies. But, yeah, for sure I need to improve on grass to the beginning, improve on fast conditions.

Yeah, I think each year I'm improving more, but still a lot to improve, yeah, for sure.

Q. You did say earlier you felt you didn't play as bad, which is true. But there was one thing that was really troubling, which was the breakpoints. What do you think was difficult about getting your chance to have your breakpoints during the match?

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah, I think he did pretty well in the breakpoints. He, like, close my doors of getting to let him think much more in the match.

I think on the breakpoints he played well, served with a lot of body serves. And I couldn't produce very much with the ball today.

Yeah, I think I was not putting him on defensive play. I was not getting much aggressive. He was playing very aggressive, going for the shots, going for the net. He was courage in the important points. Most of the important points he went to the net, went for the ball, and I couldn't get the opportunities.

So, I mean, yeah, of course sometimes was my fault, but it happens, I mean, even on grass, which is faster, the serves are difficult to return, so yeah.

But, yeah, I don't think it was all my fault, as well.

Q. Tough luck. What do you feel makes him trickier to play on grass maybe than other surfaces? Is it the serve? Is it the no bounce? What do you think for you today Safiullin was especially difficult to play?

JOAO FONSECA: Well, I think today the rhythm that he played was really intense. I mean, his return is even closer to the baseline. Sometimes he's even inside the baseline, so the ball comes faster. Sometimes it's difficult, because he has a great timing.

He produce a lot of power easily. Sometimes you think he plays smooth, but the ball still gets a lot of speed.

Yeah, I think I was not getting, my ball was not affecting him very much. Yeah, like I said, he was conducting the point before me.

Q. Would you say grass is a surface you have to learn to like, or do you already feel like, okay, your game can be suited to it?

JOAO FONSECA: I think I have the skills to play good on it. And hopefully one day it will be my best surface, but still a lot to improve, for sure.

Q. What are your plans over the next few weeks? Will you head back home or go to the U.S. to practice early?

JOAO FONSECA: I'll go back home, take some days off and reset, recovery, and go again.