World No. 65 Joao Fonseca recently shared his aspirations for opponents at the upcoming Roland Garros tournament.
“Whenever we came for Grand Slam qualifying, I would tell my coach every time: `If I make it into the main draw, I want to play Djokovic.` Because this is probably one of the last chances,” Fonseca stated. “I hope I get to play him.”
He added, “I would be happy to face Djokovic in the first or second round. I`ll try to perform my best, and the result doesn`t matter. I`ll just enjoy the experience.”
Fonseca embraces tough matchups. “I love playing seeded players; I enjoy challenges. There`s no pressure on me, so I believe I can play well. I like playing with the support of the fans and would welcome that experience. Some players might choose `easy` opponents early on, but I want to play against tennis legends.”
Addressing comparisons, he noted, “People call me the next Guga [Kuerten], saying I`ll win titles at Roland Garros. It`s great that they believe that, but it also creates unnecessary pressure. I need to be able to be myself and write my own story. Guga achieved so much, reached amazing success. I hope I can achieve at least half of that.”
Discussing his progress, the young player said, “I am progressing quickly. One of my goals is to reach the third round at a Grand Slam. Maybe it will happen at Roland Garros? I play very well on clay; I was born and raised on it and feel confident.”
“My future goal is to become world No. 1,” Fonseca revealed. “It`s a dream, and I know there is a long road ahead. I need to work even harder, move step by step.”
Gaining experience is key for him. “Roland Garros will be the first Slam where I directly enter the main draw. All of this helps me develop, grow, and do all the necessary work. I think that`s the path to achieving the highest goals.”
