At just 19 years of age, Joao Fonseca is already one of the most popular players in men’s tennis.
The Brazilian teenager, ranked 31st in the world, receives an enormous amount of support from his home fans, who make their voices heard at almost every tour-level event he appears at.
Where do you think Joao Fonseca will be ranked at the end of the 2026 season?
Fonseca has become one of the largest draws for the ATP Tour, and he certainly has the level to back it up.
He has two ATP titles to his name so far, and has reached a career-high ranking of 24th in the world.
Joao Fonseca gives verdict on being called a Brazilian idol at 19
In an interview with ESPN Brasil, Fonseca was asked how it feels to be considered an idol by many from his country already.
He responded: “It’s an honour. My idols are (Ayrton) Senna, Pelé, Ronaldinho. I’m just a young man wanting to make more history for our country, but it’s an honor.
Which Grand Slam title would you like to see Joao Fonseca win?
“I see children saying they are inspired by me, that I’m their idol, and that motivates me to keep growing as a player, as a person.
“I’ve been striving for that, but anyway, of course, there’s a bit of pressure, representing, it’s a good pressure, representing your country, it’s a pleasure to do what we love.”
Joao Fonseca looks ahead to his Madrid Open campaign
After recording his best finish at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte-Carlo by reaching the quarterfinals, Fonseca will now get his Madrid Open campaign underway.
Ahead of the competition, he said: “It’s been a very good two weeks, with good results against good players. Tough defeats, but I managed to play well.
“I come here with a lot of confidence and, after a while suffering a bit due to lack of rhythm and injury, I’m managing to achieve my level of play.
“That’s what I’ve been aiming for, to be more and more consistent and solid, not only in matches but in tournaments, not only technically but also mentally.
“I’ve been happy to achieve a good level of play in consecutive games, so what I’ve been looking for here in Madrid is to continue with confidence and consistency to achieve good results.”
Fonseca will take on former US Open champion Marin Cilic in his opening match at the Madrid Open.
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