Joao Fonseca says he is not yet near the level of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, but believes he is moving the right way after testing himself against both of them. The 18-year-old Brazilian said he wants to make his own history and hopes to be competing with the world’s best in the future.
Fonseca was speaking after debuting with a victory at the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 on the day before the article. He is now due to face French player Arthur Rinderknech in the second round, although the date and time for that match had not yet been confirmed.
The comments carry extra weight because Fonseca has already felt the gap he is talking about. He lost to Sinner in the round of 16 at the Masters 1000 de Indian Wells by 2 sets to 0, and then fell to Alcaraz in the second round of the Masters 1000 de Miami by 2 sets to 0. Even so, he said: “Mas acho que estou no caminho certo.”
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Fonseca’s own assessment was blunt. “Eu joguei contra ambos e foram bons jogos, mas ainda não estou perto [do nível deles]. Espero estar em um futuro próximo,” he said. He added that Alcaraz and Sinner “jogam nesse nível todos os jogos” and that he needs “ser mais consistente” and “trabalhar mais duro.”
That is the reality of where Fonseca stands now. He said he is still “o 40 do mundo,” and that he has to stay humble while building toward bigger ambitions. “Todo mundo tem o seu tempo, e o meu vai chegar,” he said. “É manter essa rotina, manter essa mentalidade, trabalhar quietamente e duro.”
For now, Monte Carlo offers the next step, not the finish line. Fonseca has already shown he can win at this level, but the matches that define his rise are still ahead, against players he says he is not yet ready to match point for point.
