"I’m on the right path": Joao Fonseca remains optimistic despite Miami Open exit

Brazil’s young tennis sensation Joao Fonseca has stated that he feels that he is on the ‘right path’ despite suffering an exit from the Miami Open. The 18-year-old is regarded as one for the future and has already produced some impressive performances at the highest level.

Fonseca’s most recent appearance was at the Miami Open, where he lost in the third round to Australia’s Alex de Minaur with a score of 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. Talking after the match, the Rio de Janeiro-born star stated that he feels that he is on the ‘right path’ despite losing the contest.

“Playing with the top players, you kind of know where’s your level is,” he said. “I really see that I’m [on] the right way, I’m [on] the right path, playing some good matches against top, top players. This 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.”

After the match, De Minaur admitted that the contest turned out to be a ‘hell of a battle’. “It was a hell of a battle,” he said. “I knew coming in what to expect. Not only is he an incredibly talented, dangerous, explosive player, but he’s playing with so much confidence at the moment and the crowd behind him. I knew I was going to be up against it and it was going to take every single ounce of me. Just put my head down and got to work, so very happy with that win. I think ultimately he is a big-time player, so he’s going to go for many, many shots that might not be high percentage. But now he’s playing with a lot of confidence and making them.”