Brazilian phenom Joao Fonseca on one of most important lessons he’s learned on Tour.
By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Photo credit: BNP Paribas Open Facebook
Tennis is an individual sport, but Joao Fonseca’s solo turns conjure a chorus of champions.
The 19-year-old Fonseca has earned praise from Roger Federer, been compared to compatriot Gustavo Kuerten and has seen his flame-thrower forehand favorably cited along with Rafa Nadal’s forehand as a disruptive weapon.
Still, Fonseca says his time on tour has taught him a valuable lesson: Be himself on court.
The 22nd-seeded Brazilian opened his North American summer hard court season defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(3), 7-5, today in Montreal.
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Afterward, Fonseca said while the comparisons to Grand Slam champions are flattering, he’s intent on creating his own identity.
“I don’t like very much comparisons. I know everyone has their own time,” Fonseca told the media in Montreal. “Everyone has their own career.
“Of course, everyone has their own time, and I’m just focusing on my history, and if people say you’re going to be the next, I don’t know, Guga, Nadal, I don’t want to be them,” Fonseca said. “I just want to be me, and I’m trying to make my own history and focus on what I need to do to improve and, yeah, to be a better person and a better athlete.”
Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic declared Fonseca will win multiple major titles after their marathon match at Roland Garros in May.
Slashing three straight aces, Fonseca capped a furious fightback stunning Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 to battle into the Roland Garros fourth round for the first time. It was only the second time Djokovic lost a major match after building a two-set lead. Austrian Jurgen Melzer and Fonseca are the only men to rally from a two-set deficit and defeat Djokovic in a Grand Slam match.
“He definitely has the potential to do that. Things have to come together,” Djokovic said of Fonseca. “You know, of course, he’s very professional from what I’ve seen so far, the last couple of years he’s been on the tour, which is preconditioned for success.
“Talent, he’s got firepower. He’s got the whole Brazilian nation cheering him up, so there’s a lot of excitement around him, rightfully so. So hopefully he can be the next great thing, you know, win slams. Definitely wish to see that.”
Next up for Fonseca is a Montreal rematch vs. Casper Ruud.
The ninth-seeded Ruud swept Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-1, 6-2.
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At Roland Garros, Fonseca edged Ruud 7-5, 7-6(8),5-7, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals.
Richard Pagliaro. Richard Pagliaro is Tennis Now Managing Editor. He is a graduate of New York University and has covered pro tennis for more than 35 years. Richard was tennis columnist for Gannett Newspapers in NY, served as Managing Editor for TennisWeek.com and worked as a writer/editor for Tennis.com. He has been TennisNow.com managing editor since 2010.