I’ve Got To Be Me – Tennis Now

By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Picture credit score: BNP Paribas Open Fb

Tennis is a person sport, however Joao Fonseca’s solo turns conjure a refrain of champions.

The 19-year-old Fonseca has earned reward from Roger Federer, been in comparison with compatriot Gustavo Kuerten and has seen his flame-thrower forehand favorably cited together with Rafa Nadal’s forehand as a disruptive weapon.

Nonetheless, Fonseca says his time on tour has taught him a worthwhile lesson: Be himself on court docket.

The Twenty second-seeded Brazilian opened his North American summer season arduous court docket season defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(3), 7-5, at this time in Montreal.

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Afterward, Fonseca mentioned whereas the comparisons to Grand Slam champions are flattering, he’s intent on creating his personal id.

“I don’t like very a lot comparisons. I do know everybody has their very own time,” Fonseca instructed the media in Montreal. “Everybody has their very own profession.

“In fact, everybody has their very own time, and I’m simply specializing in my historical past, and if folks say you’re going to be the subsequent, I don’t know, Guga, Nadal, I don’t wish to be them,” Fonseca mentioned. “I simply wish to be me, and I’m making an attempt to make my very own historical past and concentrate on what I have to do to enhance and, yeah, to be a greater particular person and a greater athlete.”

Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic declared Fonseca will win a number of main titles after their marathon match at Roland Garros in Could.

Slashing three straight aces, Fonseca capped a livid fightback beautiful Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 to battle into the Roland Garros fourth spherical for the primary time. It was solely the second time Djokovic misplaced a serious match after constructing a two-set lead. Austrian Jurgen Melzer and Fonseca are the one males to rally from a two-set deficit and defeat Djokovic in a Grand Slam match.

“He positively has the potential to do this. Issues have to return collectively,” Djokovic mentioned of Fonseca. “You realize, in fact, he’s very skilled from what I’ve seen up to now, the final couple of years he’s been on the tour, which is preconditioned for achievement.

“Expertise, he’s obtained firepower. He’s obtained the entire Brazilian nation cheering him up, so there’s lots of pleasure round him, rightfully so. So hopefully he will be the subsequent great point, you already know, win slams. Positively want to see that.”

Subsequent up for Fonseca is a Montreal rematch vs. Casper Ruud.

The ninth-seeded Ruud swept Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-1, 6-2.

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At Roland Garros, Fonseca edged Ruud 7-5, 7-6(8),5-7, 6-2 to achieve the quarterfinals.