João Fonseca’s historic run at Roland Garros came to an end in the quarterfinals. The 19-year-old from Rio was eliminated this Tuesday (2) by the Czech Jakub Mensik, 27th in the world, by 3 sets to 0 —6/4, 6/3 and 7/6— on a night in which he did not repeat the level that led him to beat Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud in the previous rounds.
The prediction was for a balanced confrontation between two players from the same generation. That wasn’t what happened in the first two sets. Mensik controlled the match with powerful services — including several decisive aces —, good ground play on both sides and a clear strategy: avoid Fonseca’s forehand, the Brazilian’s main weapon, forcing the plays on the backhand side.
Fonseca showed less intensity than in previous rounds. He made unforced errors in decisive moments, including double faults — a rarity in his tournament — that cost important games. In the second set, he committed two double faults in the same game, signaling difficulty in serving and increasing pressure.
The Brazilian fans, present at Philippe-Chatrier with the roof closed due to the rain that fell over Paris at the beginning of the evening — 17°C, much colder than in previous weeks —, tried to cheer Fonseca without managing to change the course of the first two sets. Gustavo Kuerten, who followed the Brazilian’s campaign from the stands throughout the tournament, was present again.
In the third set, Fonseca reacted. He broke Mensik’s serve in the first game — the Czech committed three double faults — and took a 2/0 lead. He led 5/3 and served to close the partial. But Mensik, in a very tough game, broke the Brazilian’s serve back with a break point converted after a double fault by Fonseca, tying at 5/5 and keeping the set open.
Elimination in the quarterfinals does not erase what Fonseca built at this Roland Garros. At 19 years old, he went further than any Brazilian in the men’s game since Guga in 2004, defeated Djokovic in a game lasting almost five hours and confirmed that his tennis is already operating at the level of the best in the world.
