"It Was Very Mental Today": Inside João Fonseca’s Wimbledon Breakthrough
How a Brazilian phenom is rewriting the rules of grass court tennis, one fearless point at a time. Sebastian Baez might’ve thought he had the South American spotlight, but there’s a new kid on the lawns of Wimbledon lighting it up. At just 18, João Fonseca is the youngest man to reach the third round since 2011. He’s a player who talks as honestly as he plays — all-out, all-heart, and learning at warp speed. Fonseca didn’t just arrive on grass. He’s evolving on it, carving out a fearless style that’s turning heads from SW19 to South America. From overcoming nerves on match point to swapping baseline battles for net rushes, he’s showing what happens when raw talent collides with mental steel. The Lowdown Youngest man since 2011 to reach Wimbledon third round Jumped from world No. 150 to 50 in a year Credits mental growth as his biggest improvement Thrives in high-pressure points, saving match-deciding moments with big serves Evolving from high-clearance baseline game to aggressive net play on grass "I’m just going to enjoy and play my best tennis" Grass was never meant to be a South American’s playground, but João’s flipping that script. His approach? Show up, play big, and love every second. He’s excited about facing fellow South American Nicolas Jarry, calling it a "new experience" and a chance to face loud Chilean and Brazilian fans head-on. Beyond rivalries, there’s respect — he calls Nico "inspiring" for pushing through rough patches in his career. “Nico is a nice person and also a nice player.” — João Fonseca “It’s just amazing to be here and go to the third round.” — João Fonseca "It was very mental today" Forget just hitting hard. João’s game is about out-thinking opponents, too. Against Jensen Brooksby’s unorthodox style, João kept it aggressive but smart — staying in points longer, hitting fewer lines, and trusting his serve to bail him out of tight corners. It’s this mental game that João calls his biggest leap. From junior tournaments to pro showdowns, he learned that even your best tennis might not guarantee a win, so staying calm and believing in each point is non-negotiable. “Sometimes you play your best tennis and still lose.” — João Fonseca “This posture is important to believe when things get tight.” — João Fonseca "After Next Gen, everything changed" João’s life flipped after winning the ATP Next Gen Finals. Back then, he played with huge net clearance. Now, he’s slicing that margin, going lower and bolder to fit grass demands. Ranked 150 before Next Gen, João shot up to No. 50, scored his first ATP title in Buenos Aires, and found himself suddenly recognized everywhere. He’s riding the wave, embracing fan expectations rather than ducking them. “I was 150 in the world and now I’m 50.” — João Fonseca “I love playing new tournaments, against very good players.” — João Fonseca "I needed to stay positive and go point by point" Down love-40 in the final game? João calls it nerve-racking but refuses to let the crowd see it. That calm vibe is no accident — it’s a crafted mindset. Strong serving helped him handle these tense points at Wimbledon, proving that for João, serving isn’t just a weapon; it’s therapy. “It’s good that he felt I was calm… obviously I was nervous.” — João Fonseca “I’m serving well here and it’s good for the important points.” — João Fonseca Quickfire Biggest improvement this year? My mentality. Learning to deal with big points and accept that sometimes you play your best and still lose. How’s the transition to grass? A lot of work on going to the net, lower shots, and staying solid. Learning every match. Relationship with Jarry? Good. We talk sometimes; it’s fun. I respect him a lot.v
