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Andy Roddick ‘lost his mind’ after hearing what Sam Querrey said about Joao Fonseca during his first-round match at the French Open

Image of Joao Fonseca celebrating match point against Hubert Hurkacz at the 2025 French Open, inset of Andy Roddick attending a press conference ah...
Credit: Getty Images/Richard Callis/Sports Press Photo/Slaven Vlasic/Bruce Yeung
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Joao Fonseca has sent the tennis world into a frenzy once more with another brilliant Grand Slam win.

The Brazilian youngster wowed fans around the world in January when Fonseca stunned Andrey Rublev, 7-6, 6-3, 7-6, in the first round of the Australian Open.

18-year-old Fonseca went on to lose his second-round match to Lorenzo Sonego in five sets, but had more than made his mark in Melbourne.

Joao Fonseca celebrates winning a point against Lorenzo Sonego at the 2025 Australian Open
Photo by MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images

Appearing in his second Grand Slam main draw, Fonseca scored another big win, taking down Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the French Open.

With ‘Fonseca Mania’ back in full force after his latest win, one ATP Tour legend has said the media’s coverage of the teenager is disrespectful to his opponents.

Andy Roddick ‘lost his mind’ hearing Sam Querrey compare Joao Fonseca to The Beatles

During the latest episode of Quick Served, former world number one Andy Roddick shared his thoughts on the reaction to Fonseca’s win.

“I am watching the coverage today and I heard someone on air go ‘is this the most exciting match in French Open history’. It is a first round which went 6-3, 6-4, and 6-2,” he said.

“I heard questions asked and answered, and in my opinion, it’s kind of disrespectful to the rest of the field. Is he automatically in the conversation with the big three?

“I am going, this is the second Grand Slam match he has won ever, and it’s the first match he has won in a month.

MatchOpponentResultScore
2025 French Open 1RHubert HurkaczWin6-2, 6-4, 6-2
2025 Italian Open 1R Fabian MarozsanLoss3-6, 6-7
2025 Estoril Open 1RJesper De JongLoss2-6, 5-7
2025 Madrid Open 2RTommy PaulLoss6-7, 6-7
2025 Madrid Open 1RElmer MollerWin6-2, 6-3
Joao Fonseca’s form on clay

“I agree with all of the upside. This is a future Grand Slam winner in my opinion and a future potential number one, but also, we have to respect the field and the process a little bit. I get he is exciting.”

Joao Fonseca celebrates after beating Hubert Hurkacz at the 2025 French Open
Photo by Richard Callis/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images

Roddick was particularly frustrated with what his fellow American Sam Querrey said about Fonseca, asking his co-host Jon Wertheim to tell him that he ‘lost his mind’.

“Sam Querrey said it must have been what The Beatles felt like when they came to America,” said Roddick.

“I mean, for f—– sake. Ask him tomorrow when you see him, say Andy lost his mind because you said this must be the equivalent of what it was like when the Beatles came to America in the 60s.

Andy Roddick attends a press conference ahead of the 2019 New York Open
Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

“This was court seven.”

Roddick is wary of the media overstating Fonseca’s brilliance, but was happy to admit the Brazilian’s latest win was the best he’d seen.

“It was a beating,” he said.

“[Joao] Fonseca looked the best I have ever seen him in this match. 

“What he is able to do with the ball we have known about. How he applied his weapons today was the most mature version of applying his weapons that I have seen so far.”

Fonseca will take on home favorite Pierre-Hugues Herbert in his next match, as he looks to advance to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Joao Fonseca edges closer to the top 50 with latest Grand Slam win

You’d be forgiven for thinking Fonseca is already a top ten player, given the fanfare surrounding him, but in reality, the Brazilian is ranked 65th in the world.

Following his win over Hurkacz, Fonseca jumped into the top 60 in the Live Rankings, as a place in the top 50 could be his before too long.

RankNameAgePoints
1Jannik Siner239,630
2Carlos Alcaraz226,900
3Alexander Zverev286,035
10Tommy Paul283,160
20Ugo Humbert262,195
30Denis Shapovalov261,651
40Nuno Borges281,325
50Camilo Ugo Carabelli251,036
57Joao Fonseca18949
60Zizou Bergs25931
Selected players in the Live ATP Rankings

A win in his next match could see Fonseca rise to as high as 55th in the Live Rankings, whilst a run to the fourth round would likely see him break into the top 50.

He’ll have to keep his focus, however, as fans and pundits continue to make outlandish predictions as to how far Fonseca can go at Roland Garros.

Taking it one step at a time, Fonseca will look to secure his place in the third round with a win over Herbert when he returns to the court on Thursday, May 29.