Joao Fonseca says he is gradually getting used to playing in big stadiums at major events following his opening win at the Madrid Masters on Thursday.
The world No.65 defeated in-form Danish qualifier Elmer Moller 6-2, 6-3, in the first round. Moller was on a seven-match winning run after winning a Challenger title in Oeiras last week and then two rounds of qualifying in Madrid.
Fonseca, who will turn 19 in August, is one of the Tour’s most promising young players. So far this season, he won his first Grand Slam match at the Australian Open after defeating Andrey Rublev. Then, at the Argentina Open, he won his first ATP title. As a result of his success, Fonseca’s popularity has surged and so has the expectation placed on his shoulders. However, he appears to be taking it all in his stride.
“I’m getting more used to those kinds of tournaments and the stadiums,” said the teenager, who is playing in his fourth Masters 1000 main draw.
“I was a little bit more experienced than the other guy (Moller). It’s difficult to say that because I am younger than him but I already knew how it was to play in big stadiums, and I think it was his first time and he was a little bit more nervous.
“I’m feeling a little bit more like a routine, feeling more adapted to these courts.”
Besides playing at the big events, Fonseca believes he is also gaining confidence in dealing with other responsibilities players have, such as media commitments.
“There was a time when I was very shy and I wasn’t speaking very good English, even Spanish. Portuguese, yes, but I was still very nervous when I was talking to the camera and to a lot of people.” He explained.
“But when you’re a tennis player or soccer player you need to adapt to those things.
“I never like to prepare very much for what I need to say, I’m very spontaneous. But at the same time I know that I need to thank some people, to say some words.
“I’m very used to this, so I can talk a little bit more and express myself.”
Fonseca’s next match will be against 11th seed Tommy Paul who has received a bye in the first round. He will be bidding to claim his third win over a top-20 player this year after Rublev in Australia and Ugo Humbert in Miami.
