LONDON – Joao Fonseca and Nicolás Jarry will face off in the third round of Wimbledon, with the stands expected to be loud and lively.
“I know Chilean fans are very loud too, just like the Brazilians,” Fonseca said to the media at the All England Club.
At 18, the Brazilian became the youngest male player to reach the third round of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same season since Andy Roddick in 2001.
Fonseca and Jarry get along well. The Brazilian enjoys watching the Chilean’s children running around the players’ lounge or playing with rackets in the tournament’s green areas. The former world No. 17 believes the new star of tennis is surrounded by the right people..
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“It’s great to see players who’ve gone through tough times playing well. What he’s done in his career is very inspiring,” said Fonseca, who is playing Wimbledon for the first time. Jarry has suffered a drop in his rankings due to an intense infection in his ear.
“I think he’s a great guy. He knows exactly what he wants and he surrounds himself with good people — that’s key. It’ll be a great match for both of us, and for the people coming to watch. It’s going to be emotional, I love those kinds of matches,” Jarry told CLAY.
Fonseca is still discovering new things in his first experiences on tour; Jarry has been on the professional circuit for more than a decade.
Both are playing high-level tennis on London grass and have shown they can thrive in noisy atmospheres, where South American fans create a Davis Cup-like vibe. All signs point to a fiery third-round battle.
When Fonseca won the US Open juniors, he did so in the final against a North American, with some of the crowd against him — but also with plenty of Brazilians cheering him on. Earlier this year, he won the ATP title in Buenos Aires, defeating four Argentinians along the way.
In an interview with CLAY after his last junior title in New York, Fonseca spoke about what it means to play in such noisy conditions.
“I learned early how to connect with the crowd. Whatever they give me, it makes me stronger — and often helps me turn matches around. Whether they’re cheering for you or your opponent, that’s when mental strength kicks in. I always try to use it in my favour.”
When it comes to the mental side of the game, Fonseca says that’s where he’s improved the most.
“I think my most important progress has probably been mental. I’m coming from the juniors, and the mindset when playing as a pro is completely different. Sometimes you’ll play your best tennis and still lose. Your opponent might find key points, or you might feel a bit tighter in those moments,” he explained.
This Friday in London, the two South Americans will fight for a spot in the last 16 of the most traditional tournament in the world.
