Joao Fonseca Demands an End to Comparisons with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz: “I’m Still Not Close”

Joao Fonseca is one of the top youngsters making waves on tour for the past two years. The 19-year-old has won two tour-level titles already, and he’s regarded as the leading star of his generation. Some pundits have dubbed him to challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz this season, but he has revealed that he’s not interested in that.

The World No.40 had his best season on tour last year, when he earned his first top 10 win at the Australian Open against Andrey Rublev. The Brazilian teenager then claimed his maiden ATP title at Buenos Aires and then claimed his second at the Swiss Indoor tournament in October after beating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

However, this year, he was meant to progress beyond the spectacular runs he had last season, but he has not been able to reach a tour-level quarter-final. He had an encouraging performance at the Indian Wells, reaching the fourth round, but was knocked out by Sinner in straight sets.

He then had another run at the Miami Open, which ended in the second round after Alcaraz defeated him 4-6, 4-6. Fonseca has been tipped to be a future rival to Alcaraz and Sinner, who have won the last nine Grand Slams between them. Although he has yet to break into the top 20, he reached a career-high ranking of World No.24.

Last month, tennis legend Andre Agassi revealed that the noise surrounding Fonseca’s talent will create undue pressure, which could result in him collapsing on the court. At the Monte Carlo Masters, he addressed that he’s not close to the level of Alcaraz and Sinner but believes he’s on the right path to greatness:

I played well against both of them, they were good matches, but I’m still not close. I hope to be in the future, but for now, it’s still early, even though they were good matches. They play at that level in every match, so I need to be more consistent, work harder, but I am on the right path. Everyone has their time, my time will come, for now, I am doing very well. If I continue with this routine and this silent work mentality, I believe the expectations will be met.

Even though Fonseca has been in the spotlight on tour, other rising youngsters in the men’s circuit are making a name for themselves on the court. Learner Tien and recently Marrakech Open champion Rafael Jodar are currently among the nine youngsters aged 21 or under in the top 70 on the ATP Tour. Tien is currently ranked World No. 22 and is likely to break into the top 20 before Fonseca.

Joao Fonseca believes he needs time to get to his best on tour

Joao Fonseca kicked off his Monte Carlo Masters campaign with an excellent win over Gabriel Diallo in the first round. The Brazilian teenager, who is making his debut at the event, which has not seen a Brazilian champion since 2001 when Gustavo Kuerten won it for the second time, got the better of Diallo 6-2, 6-3.

Fonseca, who began playing tennis on clay in his home country, is used to the red dirt. He has an opportunity to reach the fourth round before he faces a tough opponent at the Monte Carlo Masters. He admitted during the aforementioned press conference that he needs time to be able to get the best out of him on the court:

I hope I’ll be there competing against them, but people need to understand that I need time to become what they want me to do and I want to become. I want to become No. 1, but I know I need to take time. I’m still No.40 in the world, so I need to be humble to understand this. Hopefully, I can have a bright future ahead.

Fonseca will face Arthur Rinderknech in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday (April 7). The World No.40 is meeting Rinderknech for the first time in his career on tour. Rinderknech defeated 12th seed Karen Khachanov 7-5, 6-2 to earn his place in the second round of the ATP 1000 event.

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