Watching Joao Fonseca’s Paris debut was illuminating to say the least.
By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday May 28, 2025
Paris – On Day 3 at Roland-Garros, I made the trek out to court 7 early to see the atmosphere ahead of Joao Fonseca’s Paris debut. It was as expected — totally insane.
That wasn’t surprising. What was surprising was how well Fonseca managed everything about his Roland-Garros debut.
I watched Fonseca and Hubert Hurkacz walk up the stairs as he took the court with clamorong fans cheering for him. He seemed to be blocking it all out and totally switched on, despite the cacophony.
Fonseca was ready to go from the start of the match and he played perfectly from start to finish.
The power he possesses off of both wings is no secret, but what impressed me the most was his ability to play physical points and defend and improvise while doing so.
He slides so well. He’s made for the clay.
And he played such level-headed attacking tennis. He was so in the moment and so locked in. It was hard to believe that he still just 18, given how mature he was in following his game plan and how clear-headed his choices were.
He didn’t take a point off.
JOÃO.
FONSECA. pic.twitter.com/w853kpSwDG
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 27, 2025
All a while, the stadium was going nuts around him. Fonseca already has a great feel for how to feed off their power, but also how to not get too swept up in it. Fans travel in droves to support him, Brazilian flags flying, and Fonseca knows his role is that of a leader. He must keep his wits about him and filter out the noise as he progresses in his career.
He ended up absolutely dominating Hurkacz, much in the same way he steamrolled Andrey Rublev in his Grand Slam debut this January in Australia. There was no chance for the Pole at any phase of the match, and Fonseca might dominate a similarly in the second round when he faces Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
The beginning of the Fonseca is here in Paris, even if it might be a little premature when they tell him he is the next Guga. Then again the sky appears to be the limit for this kid. It was a privilege to watch his debut and it will be a privilege to watch how his career progresses on the Parisian clay.
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