MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

March 24, 2025

Joao Fonseca

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/J. Fonseca

5-7, 7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Tough luck tonight. Tough match. What do you think made the difference in the end?

JOAO FONSECA: I mean, Alex is an experienced guy. He's already on tour for a long, long time. So he knows how to play in the circumstances, with the crowd against him.

Yeah, in the important points I had chances. I had opportunity to close the doors for him, but he took the opportunities that he had.

I served 2-1 on the third. I had some opportunity to close. Then probably I'll be more hyped during the match. He broke me and he started playing better. He was not missing any ball after that. So, I mean, it was difficult to play.

I knew it was going to be difficult since the beginning because, well, he's a top-10 player, he runs for every ball. He's a great fighter. I knew I couldn't finish the point from one ball. I needed to do three or four.

Yeah, happy the way that I played this week. Unfortunately it was not today. But yeah, we keep going.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Have you ever watched any old videos of Jimmy Connors? He knows how to use the crowd to his benefit, which you're one in the same, it seemed.

JOAO FONSECA: Actually, I never saw him play. But I know, of course, who he is. I didn't know he loved playing with the crowd. But it's a nice information. Maybe I can watch some videos.

Q. Could you describe the atmosphere here that you had this whole tournament. What did you learn about yourself and what did you learn going forward?

JOAO FONSECA: I mean, first impression here is just I felt really in Brazil. I mean, not only the crowd, but, like, the organization treated me like was in Brazil. So it was super cool. I really like the tournament. Probably one of my favorite tournaments now.

So yeah, I knew it was going to be crowded, but I didn't know it was going to be, like, huge. Yeah, it was super nice being here.

What was the next question?

Q. What did you learn about yourself from this experience?

JOAO FONSECA: I mean, playing with the top players, you kind of know where's your level. I really see that I'm the right way, I'm the right path, playing some good matches against top, top players. There is where I want to be. Happy the way I played those matches. Against Ugo, against Learner. There is the next promise, the next American promise. He's playing some good tennis.

Today against Alex I played a good match. It was only the little things, only an opportunity that he got it. I mean, learning? Is my second year on tour, so yeah, getting some new experiences.

Q. Are there any points that sort of stay with you, that you would like to play again, that you might do something different?

JOAO FONSECA: Yeah, sure. On the 4-All on the second set, I had like two or three breaks. I missed a slice. I made a good return. The ball was low. I made a slice. I could go for the ball like I always do, but I was too passive.

I mean, those are the points that you had the opportunity, but you didn't get it. So, I mean, it kind of frustrate you sometimes. But it happens. I mean, tennis is like that. There's going to be some points like this.

Of course, the 2-1 serving, I had some chances to do my serve, and then I missed a forehand down the line. I mean, just working and getting those experiences, I'm going to improve in this.

I think the difference today, I didn't play bad, I think was the mentality today.

Q. Towards the end of the match, you were trying to bring the crowd in the game. At that point how much energy did you have left in the tank? Were you trying to reach out for energy?

JOAO FONSECA: I mean, I was super good physically. I just wanted to entertain. Probably was going to be my last minutes this year in Miami. So, I mean, I was just enjoying. I was winning the pins.

Well, was 30-15 for him. People were calling Joao Fonseca. I was jut like fighting there, Okay, let's go. I did 30-All with a great point. I called them again. Maybe I could break him. After, I was going to be hyped.

I mean, I was just enjoying the moment. Was looking at my coach, just laughing, just enjoying. Yeah, those moments are cool.

I mean, it's my job, but it's the job that I love, so you need to enjoy sometimes.

Q. With all the focus, the attention, the excitement that you've had here and also in Indian Wells, what have you got coming up? Are you ready for even more attention when you get into Europe, Roland Garros, other places?

JOAO FONSECA: I mean, everything is new. I need to get used to everything. It's going to be my first time playing those tournaments in Europe. I actually played once Madrid Open last year, but...

I mean, it's going to be new experiences. I need to adapt, of course. Yeah, of course I'm going to play my tennis. I mean, the aggressive tennis that you guys know. Now on clay. It's going to be nice. It's going to be a great experience.

Q. As a kid when you were thinking of playing the tour, I'm sure you were envisioning something. Now the real thing, is it like the thing you imagined or how is it different?

JOAO FONSECA: Difficult question.

I mean, I think it was similar to what I thought. Maybe when you see on the television the tour, you see like the top players just enjoying, winning all the matches. But it's not like that. You know that there's a process, futures, challengers, then you need to pass the barrier from top 100. It's a long way to being here in the top tournaments.

But yeah, when I was young watching on the TV, I was like, I want to be there. It's going to be easy to go there.

But no, it's a long way. Fortunately I passed this in a fast way, doing some great tournaments and getting on these tournaments now. But having a good experience.

I mean, when you achieve those great tournaments, everything's great. Every tournament is perfect. I mean, the food, the hospitality, everything is perfect. The reality that you play, like, futures, challengers, you're going to pass to this time, and it's not going to be like this everything perfect.

Yeah, I think that's my opinion.