Fonseca on Rivaling Top Two: I Think I Can Get There
By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, March 9, 2026
Photo credit: BNP Paribas Open Facebook
INDIAN WELLS—Few players move Roger Federer to celestial heights.
Seeing Joao Fonseca play in person prompted the Swiss Maestro to declare “the sky’s the limit” for the Brazilian phenom.
Furthermore, Federer said Fonseca reminds him of a Grand Slam champion: Himself.
“I feel like he’s more a little bit like me in the sense that he just needs a little bit more time to work out his game,” Federer said at the Australian Open in January. “When to dial back, when to unload his shot but once he figures that out, the sky’s the limit, but obviously I think he’s one of the guys who can compete for the biggest wins.”
“I think what separates him from a lot of other guys in the draw is just that power – forehand, backhand, serve – and just what he’s able to bring point for point. He’s exciting, he’s got a good aura, I feel he’s a very likeable character as well. I like watching him play to be honest, I briefly met him at Laver Cup, and also saw him courtside from the back – it was also impressive to see.”
➡️ Nada menos que Roger Federer sobre João Fonseca:
— João Fonseca Updates (@fonsecaupdates) January 15, 2026
"O que o diferencia dos outros caras é a potência dele.
Ele é empolgante, tem uma boa aura, uma personalidade muito fácil de gostar e eu gosto de vê-lo jogar.
Eu o assisti na Laver Cup e foi impressionante.
O céu é o limite." pic.twitter.com/TNbvgJA2M5
Indian Wells has been a Masters 1000 launching pad for Fonseca, who has beaten two Top 25-ranked opponents—Karen Khachanov and Tommy Paul—to power into his first showdown vs. No. 2 Jannik Sinner.
Asked if he can emerge as the true challenger to the world’s Top 2, the explosive Brazilian said he “needs to believe it” and suggests it’s a matter of improving over time to do it.
“Of course. I need to believe it. I mean, I played Khachanov in the second round and Tommy now, two top-15 guys. Played really well,” Fonseca said. “I mean, I’m playing really well. I think I have the level. I’m
playing really good. So, I mean, I think I can get there.
“It needs time, it needs to work mental, physique, needs to work the technique as well. So, yeah, there is a lot to improve, but I’m thinking I’m the right path.”
Spinning his wheels at the start of this season, Fonseca fell to American Eliot Spizzirri in the AO first round, lost to Alejandro Tabilo in his Buenos Aires opener that blew up his title defense and went 1-1 before raucous home fans in Rio.
The higher bouncing Indian Wells courts have given Fonseca time to set up and fire from behind the baseline and he punished Paul’s second serve on Sunday night winning four of 10 break-point chances.
The 19-year-old Fonseca said hearing Grand Slam champions ranging from Federer to Gustavo Kuerten to Jim Courier to John McEnroe praise him as a potential future Top 4 player is positive reinforcement rather than additional pressure.
“If people say that the people think that I can be good stuff, that I can play some good tennis, that I can be there playing with Alcaraz and Sinner, and then I try to bring in a positive way, not as a pressure but as a privilege,” Fonseca said. “I mean, people are saying this, so I have the game, I have the level.
“So let’s keep working and then try to do the best that I can to achieve. Yeah, I think that’s my mentality. Like I said, I’m chill and very calm guy, so I just try to take positive things about those stuff and put in my day by day.”
The winner of the Sinner v. Fonseca match will face either American left-hander Learner Tien or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the quarterfinals.
Post Comment