Managing the heavy tennis calendar well has been important in the good phase of Brazilian João Fonseca. This was his analysis in the interview given after his victory by 2 sets to 1 (5/7, 6/4 and 6/3) over Canadian Denis Shapovalov, in his debut at the Masters 1000 in Paris.
“This year was my first year playing the grand tour. So me and my team tried to focus a lot on which weeks we would play and which weeks we wouldn’t play, to focus more on the physicality and mentality,” he said.
Fonseca minimized the discomfort he felt in his lower back during the game, which required medical attention, and said he was in good condition to face Russian Karen Khachanov in the second round, on Wednesday night (29). Number 14 in the rankings, Khachanov was champion of the tournament in 2018.
The 19-year-old from Rio said he will only keep his promise to use a zero machine on his hair after the season, because it will look “very ugly”. He said he would get rid of his locks if he won the title on the European tour and won the ATP 500 in Basel last Sunday (26).
Check out the answers given by the athlete after this Tuesday’s triumph
How do you feel about the rapid change from Basel and how did you find the atmosphere on Court 1?
It was a great experience today after winning a tournament and changing my mindset for another tournament, another big tournament where I needed to play my best because the guy I played with is in the top 25. Last week we put up a good fight. So, I knew I needed to play my best.
The first set was a little more competitive, he got a break, he was returning well, playing well. I got a break at the beginning of the second set, where I felt a little more confident, I think that was the turning point of the game. I’m really happy with how I held myself mentally in this game after, like you said, a good week. Last week was good, so changing the mindset was good today.
Can you update us on your back injury? How are you feeling now?
I’m feeling good. The tension is like this, week after week you need to change your mentality and there will be some small discomfort, small injuries. I felt a little in my back, a little more tension, but I feel good. Nothing that a good physiotherapist can’t solve in one day. I think tomorrow will be great, I’m already feeling better. Tomorrow will be another good day, and I will fight until the end.
You play the next match against Karen Khachanov. Do you have any expectations?
We all know he’s a good player. He can beat anyone, he knows how to play in this type of tournament, he has a lot of experience. It will be our first match, I’m excited to play against him. We work hard to play against these guys, so I’m going to give my all in tomorrow’s match.
You probably learned a lot this year about the calendar, it seems like you managed to manage it very well with your surroundings to reach the end of October, November.
This year was my first year playing the grand tour. So my team and I tried to focus a lot on which weeks we would play and which weeks we wouldn’t play, to focus more on physicality and mentality. We didn’t go to Asia because I was sick, but also because of my mentality and my physique, and we didn’t go because there were many things: the Davis Cup, the Laver Cup, I was going directly to Asia and I felt a little sicker.
I didn’t go to Shanghai either and started playing on indoor courts. Week after week is a lot of things, but it’s my first year, I can’t complain. I’m just really enjoying the tour, but I see a lot of players saying that sometimes it’s too much. This year we knew it would be very intense and we focused on which weeks we would play or not.
It seems like everywhere you play you play in front of a home crowd, especially in Paris. What’s it like to play with fans like that always by your side? Is it extra pressure or is it better?
When I was younger, I felt a lot more pressure when I played with a crowd by my side, but nowadays I love playing with them. Their support helps me a lot to stay focused on the match, and when things are bad or good, they are there to support me. I love playing with the fans. I know that everywhere I go there are Brazilians, and that’s really cool. I love representing my country. It’s a pleasure to represent them and know that everywhere I go, in every match I play, there are Brazilians cheering.
You’re doing very well, 224 km/h, 221 km/h. I wanted to know if you changed anything in your serve, if it has to do with the indoor court, any other factor.
We have been focusing a lot on looting since the beginning of the year. It’s one of the most important things in tennis. We have been working a lot here indoors, which is a very big factor. We have been working a lot on point entries, both serves and returns. And we changed there after Brussels, which was a game in which I failed a lot on my serve. I don’t think there was a big change in technique, I think it was more training, training and training.
About the promise [de cortar o cabelo a máquina zero]everyone wants to know when you will comply.
I will comply, so much so that I even spoke to the camera [no domingo]for me to fulfill, because I already know myself. If I hadn’t spoken up, without everyone calling me out, I probably would have procrastinated on it. But I’ve already agreed with my coaches what I’m going to do when the season ends. That I’ll be on vacation, there won’t be television, I’ll probably post it for the whole world. But I’m going to look ugly. So, I won’t be playing any tournaments at that time.
And any other promises?
No promises, no promises.
Here in Paris, there is always a lot of harassment, in a good way, around Brazilians, because of what Gustavo Kuerten did here. How do you, at such a young age, deal with everything that happens off the court?
I think the fans in my favor are really cool. Having both Brazilians and people from other countries rooting for me is an honor. Seeing children shouting my name, even adults, I think it’s really cool. And it helps a lot during the match, in support, when things are bad, when things are good. They are there to help me, to send me energy. I feel very good these days on the court when the crowd is in my favor. And much of the time is in my favor. I am very grateful for that.
But is Paris special because of Guga?
Paris… Man, obviously Roland Garros is different. Because of Guga. It’s a Grand Slam. Okay, it’s a Grand Slam, but I’m more concerned about the fact that Guga won three times. I think it’s more like Roland Garros. Not Paris itself, but Roland Garros.
