Joao Fonseca Wants to Be Admired for His Charisma: “I Learned From My Idols Gustavo Kuerten and Roger Federer”

When Joao Fonseca won the 2024 Next-Gen ATP Finals, the tennis world thought he would end up joining Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to form another Big 3. And although he has made a lot of progress since then, it’s safe to say that he hasn’t yet reached that level to be placed into the same bracket as Sinner and Alcaraz.

The 19-year-old is already thinking of a legacy he wants to leave behind. Fonseca, who wants to follow in the footsteps of Gustavo Kuerten and Roger Federer, doesn’t want to be remembered just for tennis, but for the way he treated his fans.

I still feel like I’m new to the circuit. It’s really my first year playing the full calendar. I think people know me a little better now, and that brings expectations. I know it’s normal because they support me and believe in me. I try to stay calm, keep my feet on the ground, be humble, and focus on my routine to improve as a person and as a player.

Joao Fonseca said (via Tennis Majors)

Brazilian fans flock to the stadium whenever Fonseca plays. In front of his home fans, Fonseca won the Rio Open doubles along with Marcelo Melo this year, winning his career’s first official home tournament.

I want people to admire me not only for my tennis but also for my charisma, for my way of speaking, and for how I treat people. That’s something I learned from my idols, Guga and Roger. They weren’t great just for their tennis; they were also great for how they treated people. I want to be known for that too.

Joao Fonseca added

Fonseca was last seen in action at Wimbledon, where he suffered a third-round defeat at the hands of Roman Safiullin. At the French Open, Fonseca became the reason behind Novak Djokovic‘s third-round exit. He later lost to Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals.

Novak Djokovic on the dish he would prepare for Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer have won a combined 66 Grand Slam titles. And while Nadal and Federer are enjoying their life after retirement, Nole is still chasing more Grand Slam glory. Although he reached the Australian Open final (lost to Carlos Alcaraz) after defeating Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, he was no match for the Italian ace in the semifinals of the recently concluded Wimbledon.

Days after that upset, Djokovic made an appearance at the Fantastic Fest in New York, and there, he was asked about his cooking skills. What dishes would Djokovic cook for his old foes, Nadal and Federer? Here’s what he said:

If I had to cook for Rafael Nadal, I’d probably prepare a paella plate for him. A little bit of a Spanish tradition there. And I will do a raclette cheese for Mr. Roger Federer.

Where will Djokovic play next? Since winning the Cincinnati Masters in 2023, Djokovic has skipped both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Masters. So this time as well, he’s expected to play at the US Open next.

Last year at the New York Major, the 24-time Grand Slam champion lost to eventual champion Alcaraz in straight sets. He last won the US Open in 2023, and it was also the last time he clinched a Major. Since then, he has played three Grand Slam finals: he lost to Alcaraz at the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon before his Australian Open defeat to the Spaniard.

Djokovic last clinched a title at the 2025 Hellenic Championship. It was also the second title of the 2025 season after the Geneva Open.

Also read: Novak Djokovic Opens Up on the Impact of Competing at 39: “I’m Imprisoning Myself”