Joao Fonseca was absolutely distraught after his Rio Open campaign came to a premature end.
The Brazilian entered his home tournament full of confidence, as Fonseca claimed his first ATP Tour title at the Argentina Open on Sunday.
The teenager played in front of a packed and passionate crowd inside a stadium that is just 10 minutes away from where he grew up.
But the 18-year-old was unable to sustain his level produced in Buenos Aires as he made an early exit from the tournament.
Joao Fonseca explains why he lost his first match at the Rio Open
Just two days after securing his first ATP Tour title, Joao Fonseca was back on court aiming to win another championship, and one that is very close to his heart.
Following an impressive run to the title in Argentina, many expected the teenager to replicate those performances in front of his own fans.
Fonseca took on Alexandre Müller who commenced his 2025 season by beating Kei Nishikori to win the Hong Kong Open.
However the Frenchman had not won a match since then, so it came as a surprise when he defeated Fonseca 6-1, 7-6(4).
Post-match a disappointed Fonseca told reporters that from a mental standpoint, he was not at the level required to claim victory.
“I knew I would get nervous, that I would have to face the fear of playing with so many people,” he said. “I tried with all my strength to face the moment but I couldn’t, it’s part of the sport. It’s about learning from these experiences to become stronger.”
“I was 100% physically. I managed to get two good nights of sleep and rest well. Today had nothing to do with the physical, it was the mental part.”
Joao Fonseca thanked the fans for their support at the Rio Open
Fonseca committed 34 unforced errors against Muller at the Rio Open.
He only managed to create two break points, both of which were saved by Muller who claimed his first win since January 5. He will play Tomás Martín Etcheverry next.
On the other hand, Fonseca took some time to thank the fans who supported him and vowed to work hard to come back stronger.
“I can only thank the fans and the Brazilian people for their affection,” the World number 68 added.
“I’m sad that I won’t be able to play another game with the best crowd in the world. I’ll work hard to have more moments like this in the future.”
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