"I knew I would get nervous": Joao Fonseca remains upbeat despite heartbreaking defeat in Rio Open

Brazil’s young tennis sensation Joao Fonseca has opened up about losing in the first round of the Rio Open. The 18-year-old, who is already regarded as the one for the future, suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the opening round of the competition on his home soil against Alexandre Muller in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 7-6.

Fonseca, who was coming into the competition on the back of some very impressive performances, talked to the media after the contest where he talked about feeling nervous during the contest while playing on the home soil. The youngster also admitted that the result is a part of a ‘learning’ process and that he is hoping to come back ‘stronger’ after suffering a heart break in front of the home crowd.

"I knew I would get nervous,” he said while talking to the media. “[I knew] that I would have to face the fear of playing with so many people. I tried with all my strength to face the moment but I couldn't, it's part of the sport. It's about learning from these experiences to become stronger."

Despite the defeat in Rio de Janeiro, Fonseca will be very pleased with his recent performance. He came into the competition on the back of lifting his maiden ATP title at the seniors level. He won the Argentina Open after beating local favourite Francisco Cerundolo in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 7-6. Before that, he participated in the Australian Open, where he defeated Russia’s Andrey Rublev in the first round in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-3, 7-6. It was arguably one of the biggest upsets of the first round in the first Grand Slam of the year. His journey in the competition ended in the second round, where he lost to Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in a five-set thriller with a score of 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.