Joao Fonseca Looks Back on Early Relationship with Taylor Fritz: “He Wouldn’t Even Say Hi in Locker Room”

Taylor Fritz holds a 1-0 head-to-head lead over Joao Fonseca following their meeting in the fourth round of this year's Eastbourne International.

Joao Fonseca Looks Back on Early Relationship with Taylor Fritz: “He Wouldn’t Even Say Hi in Locker Room”

Joao Fonseca, Taylor Fritz (Image via X/ATP Tour, AllAboutHQ)

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Joao Fonseca revealed what has changed about his relationship with his experienced colleagues after the Laver Cup. Fonseca made his Laver Cup debut this year and played one match. On Day 1, he locked horns with Team Europe’s Flavio Cobolli and defeated him in straight sets.

His Team World teammates were: Taylor Fritz, Reilly Opelka, Alex de Minaur, Francisco Cerundolo, Alex Michelsen, and Jenson Brooksby. During an interview with ESPN Brazil, Fonseca said the Laver Cup helped him develop a good friendship with his colleagues.

I’m friends with all the players, we train with all the players. Obviously, there are some who are nicer than others, some that we all enjoy training with more than others, but I get along super well at Laver Cup. For me, De Minaur and Cerundolo both of them speak Spanish, so we ended up talking a bit more among ourselves. But the Americans, like Opelka, whom I didn’t know that well, but became great friends with.

Joao Fonseca said

Fonseca was surprised to see that he has become good friends with Fritz, revealing how the shy American would never even greet the youngster in the locker room.

I didn’t know Fritz so well, and we became super close friends. Fritz was a guy who, when I walked past him in the locker room or something, wouldn’t even say hi. He was much more shy; he didn’t talk to men or me, and man, now after Laver Cup, we talk on WhatsApp.

Joao Fonseca added

Fritz also congratulated the Brazilian when the latter lifted his career’s first ATP 500 title at the Swiss Indoors by defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. It was Fonseca’s career’s second title, following the Argentina Open, where he defeated home favorite Cerundolo.

Fonseca is tipped to join Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to form another formidable Big 3. At present, Alcaraz and Sinner are way ahead in the competition, having split the last eight Grand Slam titles, winning a combined 26 titles from 35 finals since last year.

Joao Fonseca on his relationship with Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter

Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe served as captains of Team Europe and Team World for the first seven editions of the Laver Cup. For the eighth edition, Yannick Noah led Team Europe, while Andre Agassi guided Team World.

Joao Fonseca
Joao Fonseca (Image via X/Tennis Channel)

Agassi picked Joao Fonseca in the team, which denied their opponents their sixth title. During the aforementioned interview with ESPN Brasil, the 19-year-old revealed how his relationship was with Agassi and vice-captain Pat Rafter.

Yeah, Agassi was super cool. I think Rafter, too. I actually got a bit closer to Rafter than Agassi because we spent more time together on the bench, in the seating area, we talked more. Between the matches, Agassi was busy talking to the players who were playing, Rafter and I were always chatting, talking about the matches.

Fonseca burst onto the scene when he defeated Learner Tien in last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah. He is recovering from an injury he suffered at the end of the season, which is why the teenager will be skipping this year’s Next Gen ATP Finals, scheduled to start on December 17.

Fonseca was last seen in action at the Paris Masters, where his run ended in the third round with a three-set defeat to Karen Khachanov. He ended the season with a 26-16 win-loss record. Fonseca also achieved a career-high No.24 in the rankings thanks to his two titles and his Grand Slam run. He played the main draw events of all four Majors this season.

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