Joao Fonseca is set to make history this week in Jeddah, where he will become the first Brazilian to compete at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.
The 18-year-old may have a big future ahead of him on the ATP Tour, but he also has a clear idea of which Grand Slam classic from the past has stuck with him the most. Earlier this year, Fonseca spoke to ATPTour.com about his desire to change the outcome of that match, his hobbies off the court and more.
If you could have dinner with three people in history, who would they be?
I would say Roger [Federer]. I haven’t met Roger yet, but he’s my idol in tennis. [Basketball player] Kobe Bryant: his kind of game, he was incredible. Then I would say my father, because he helped me ask the things I wanted to ask, but which are sometimes difficult to express in English.
If you could swap places with one person in the world for a day, who would it be?
Tough question. I don’t want to say Roger, I want to say someone not in tennis. Maybe someone in football, like Cristiano Ronaldo. I could also say Neymar, maybe because he is Brazilian, but probably Ronaldo.
Is there a particular match that you remember watching years ago on TV that you wish you could have played?
The one in 2019, when Roger had match point against [Novak] Djokovic at Wimbledon. I wish I could be Roger, so I could make an ace at 40/15 [on the championship point]. I want to change history!
What’s one cool thing you’ve done off the court because you’re a tennis player?
At the Rio Open, I visited a programme that works with people from the favela. Humble people who don’t have a lot of money and teaches them how to play tennis. And when they saw me, I thought, ‘OK, I’m just a guy your age’, just trying to help and teach tennis. It was very nice for me. And for me, it was a very special day. I helped many children, to help inspire them to play tennis.
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