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Joao Fonseca reflects on the pressure of being compared to Roger Federer
TL;DR
Joao Fonseca discusses the pressure of being compared to Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz. He emphasizes that such comparisons are unrealistic and that his achievements should be recognized without added pressure.
Key points
- Joao Fonseca is a teenager on the ATP Tour.
- He faces pressure from comparisons to Roger Federer.
- Fonseca believes comparisons to Carlos Alcaraz are unrealistic.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Joao Fonseca has been under the spotlight ever since he first appeared on the ATP Tour.
Still just a teenager, his achievements so far have been remarkable and deserve recognition rather than pressure to deliver more.
Drawing comparisons between him and Carlos Alcaraz isnât realistic either. No one should be held to that standard.
Joao Fonseca has recently addressed comparisons with Roger Federer, explaining how much it used to affect him mentally.
Joao Fonseca addresses comparisons to Roger Federer
Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images
Fonseca spoke about the challenges that come with that kind of attention, saying it was overwhelming at first.
âAt the beginning, it was real madness for me, honestly,â he said. âIt was something totally different.â
Even so, the 17-year-old has made steady progress and is currently ranked inside the ATP top 30. Itâs a strong start to his career and shows heâs handling things pretty well.
Fonseca went on: âI felt the pressure from people, all the expectations⊠I felt like everyone thought I was going to become the next Roger Federer almost overnight.
âBut things donât work like that. I was trying to understand all of that, but it was difficult.â
He now seems more settled: âNow, I think Iâve understood that I only play for myself, that I donât owe anything to people and that I donât play for them, but for myself.â
Sinner recently shared his thoughts on Fonseca and Rafael Jodar â two young players expected to start challenging Alcaraz and Sinner themselves before long.
The weight Joao Fonseca is carrying might be a bit much
The calm and composure heâs shown while continuing to move forward speaks volumes about his mental strength.
Fonseca made his mark in 2024 and has stayed at tennisâ highest level ever since. He already has two tour-level titles and several notable wins over top-ranked players under his belt.
A lot of young players would have buckled under similar weight. But so far, Fonseca hasnât shown any signs of letting it get to him. His steady rise suggests thereâs plenty more ahead â and there shouldnât be any rush on when it arrives.
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Q&A
What does Joao Fonseca say about the pressure of comparisons to Roger Federer?
Joao Fonseca reflects that comparisons to Roger Federer create unrealistic pressure, emphasizing the need for recognition of his own achievements.
How does Joao Fonseca feel about being compared to Carlos Alcaraz?
Fonseca believes that drawing comparisons between him and Carlos Alcaraz is unrealistic and unfair.
What are Joao Fonseca's achievements on the ATP Tour?
Despite being a teenager, Joao Fonseca has achieved remarkable success on the ATP Tour, which he feels should be acknowledged.
