THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2026

Joao Fonseca

Press Conference

J. FONSECA/R. Bautista Agut

7-6, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Great win. Love-3 down in the first-set tiebreak. How important was it for you to get that one under your belt, because Bautista Agut is a very experienced player, and especially here on grass he's had a lot of experience here at Wimbledon. What was your preparation in terms of studying him before that match?

JOAO FONSECA: We, I say we, me and my team, we knew that he's a very, very much experienced guy. He knows how to deal, how to play against me, which is a young player, and how to put pressure, the times that he needs to attack, the times he needs to put more balls to make me think. Yeah, he did this pretty well in the first set.

Yeah, the way that I played a little bit after the 3-Love in the tiebreak of the first set was really important for me to try to manage a little bit more of the match and try to play like I want, aggressive, and commanding the point.

So yeah, it was pretty important for me to get the win today.

Q. A bit limited experience on grass courts. I'm wondering, what kind of opponent do you fear more on these kind of courts?

JOAO FONSECA: Do I think what?

Q. That you are scared of, you think can put you in some difficulties and troubles.

JOAO FONSECA: If I could say a player or the type of player?

Q. No, the kind of player.

JOAO FONSECA: I think, for me, if I can see grass as the fast surface, I would say, more like Perricard or Opelka or Jannik, probably those guys, because the serve is huge. Yeah, I need to enter the match thinking like and accepting that I can receive many aces. Yeah, I think that would be difficult.

Q. Seems like recently there's been a big increase on injuries, especially on the men's side, and lots of like arm injuries. Like Draper just pulled out today with arm injury. Obviously Carlos isn't here with his wrist. I just wonder, I don't know whether the way players are hitting the ball now and you yourself, the way you hit the ball, you obviously throw your whole body into it with a lot of force, is that something that you feel worried about, that the amount of force that you put into the ball on your forehand, have you ever had any trouble in that area, or is that something you worry about going forward?

JOAO FONSECA: Worry? No. I just think I need to do things that need to put my arms like stronger, and kind of prevent that something bad happens.

So, yeah, we are doing a great job, me and my team. Well, there are some - I forget the word, sorry. But yeah, there is going to be some time that you're going to feel something, of course, but hopefully not bad. Yeah, sometimes gonna happen. But yeah, I'm not worried about it.

Q. I'm pretty sure you'll be running out of here to go watch the match.

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah.

Q. In terms of the Brazil team, do you have any relationships with the players there? Do you message them, wish them luck, or do they do the same to you when they see you in tournaments?

JOAO FONSECA: Actually, no. I already sent a message from one of the players, but not nowadays. I know the guys are focused.

But yeah, I already change messages with one, two of them.