Brazilian tennis fans will be pleased to hear Joao Fonseca’s fitness update ahead of the Rio Open.
The 18-year-old is preparing for what will be his third appearance at the ATP Tour 500 event.
But unlike his previous appearances, the teenager will enter the Rio Open as arguably tennis’ biggest rising star, as Fonseca just won his first title at the Argentina Open.
While he had to overcome some hostility from the crowds in Buenos Aires, Fonseca will certainly have the entire stadium on his side when he competes on home soil once again.
What did Joao Fonseca say about his fitness before the Rio Open?
Joao Fonseca became the youngest South American to win an ATP event since the Masters format was introduced in 1990.
Fonseca defeated Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 7-6(1) to join the elite group of players who have won tournaments on the circuit.
The World number 68 had to do it the hard way as three of five matches went to five sets and he was also struggling with injury in the semi-finals and final.
But ahead of playing at the Rio Open, Fonseca says he is back to full health and is ready to play some of his best tennis in front of his home fans.
“I am physically perfect,” he told raptors in a pre-tournament press conference. “The injury I had in the semi-finals and final in Buenos Aires is practically ‘removed’. I’m ready for a long and demanding week here in Rio.”
Joao Fonseca says how he dealt with the crowds at the Argentina Open
Fonseca not only dealt with injury but he faced some hostile crowds as a Brazilian playing in Argentina.
Four of his opponents were Argentinian, and the crowd was certainly on their side as they willed them to victory.
But while the likes of Alexander Zverev and Holger Rune struggled against the home players, Fonseca overcame the odds and became the fifth player to defeat four Argentine players on the way to claiming the title in Buenos Aires.
“Many people ask why I served when people were screaming. I served because it was the way I found to make them stop screaming,” he said.
“I played against four Argentines. We can all get nervous. This will continue to happen and we have to face it. I had a lot of chances, I missed some, and that keeps gnawing away.
“But everyone goes through it, and when it was time for the tie-break, I tried to forget everything that happened before.”
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