The enormous expectations and hype surrounding Joao Fonseca add a great deal of pressure to the 19-year-old. Yet the Brazilian is handling it well. So says Belgian Alexander Blockx, who will likely face him many times on tour.
“He’s getting a lot of pressure, but I think he’s handling it very well. He’s very young, but mentally he’s really mature. That’s the reason why he can perform so well,” the 20-year-old told CLAY in an interview held during the Copa Cap Cana.
Blockx is having a strong season, including a recent semifinal run at the Madrid Open. His solid start to 2025 carried him into the top 40, and the prospect of challenging Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for titles is no longer unthinkable. “If you believe, you have a small chance,” he said.
The Belgian also addresses the controversy that unfolded in his country during the 2025 Davis Cup tie against Chile, when his compatriot Zizou Bergs ran into Cristián Garin during a changeover and was not disqualified: “We were lucky.”
Interview with Alexander Blockx
— Many players born in the mid 2000 are having a breakthrough… It’s a strong group: Rafael Jodar, Joao Fonseca, Jakub Mensik… and Alexander Blockx. Do you see yourself as one of the biggest stars among the young players?
— I think the generation I’m part of is a very strong one. We have some really good players. I don’t see myself as the biggest star, I would say. I’m just enjoying the tournaments, the matches I play. There are some matches I definetly don’t enjoy, but there are always things to learn from, specially under tough conditions.
— Can this generation break through the dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz?
— We would definetly try. They are definetly on a higher level right now. But if you believe, you have a small chance.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
— Playing in the Caribbean a few months ago was very hard for you…under the sun, very humid and hot. You said it was one of the toughest conditions you have found on a tennis court. It’s like a reminder that tennis under a roof, in a gymnasium, happens just during a short part of the calendar.
— Every week is different. When you have to play under very tough weather it’s not much about tennis, it’s more about the mental and physical side of the sport. Whoever keeps himself composed the best has the best chance to win in a place like Cap Cana, because is difficult to play at your best level. But that also makes matches more entertaining.
— You haven’t played Joao Fonseca yet…
— I did. Juniors. Three years ago. I won.
— How excited are you for that upcoming rivalry?
— I don’t know if there will be a rivalry. I hope someday there will. He’s a bit further than me right now. I hope to catch up to him someday. At the moment he’s still pretty far away, he has won two titles, his level is really high. I think I need to work on some things to try and keep up to him. But I feel like step by step I’m getting there, and hopefully we could meet sometimes in the future.
— Is he getting too much pressure?
— He’s getting a lot of pressure, yes, but I think he’s handling it very well. He’s very young, but mentally he’s really mature for his age. That’s the reason why he can perform so well. He’s improving every time we see him back, and he’s a really exciting player to watch, especially for me.
— Is it an advantage for his rivals that he’s getting that amount of attention and pressure?
— Every time players face him, they for sure feel like they have to play at their best. So I don’t know if it’s an advantage or disadvantage, because they also might fear him — he’s a big player. I think he’s doing a good job and he has a very bright future.
— You were in the Davis Cup tie against Chile in 2025, and you witnessed up close one of the biggest controversies in recent years on a tennis court, when your teammate Zizou Bergs ran into Cristián Garin during a changeover, sending him to the ground. Everyone in the tennis world was talking about it. How did you experience that moment?
— I think we were lucky that day. I didn’t play, so for me it was nothing special. I think for some it was a bit tough, but it didn’t bother me too much. I was happy that we got the win, and of course it was an unfortunate moment for the Chilean fans. They were very angry, which I understand, but it was not intentional in the first place.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
— If you could change one rule in tennis, which one would it be?
— Only one serve.
— Would you change anything about the calendar?
— Absolutely. I would end the tennis season by October so we have more time to rest and do our preseason.
— And a dream?
— Being number one in the world.
If you enjoyed this interview with Alexander Blockx, don’t miss many other interviews with the protagonists of the tennis tour. Click here and read much more for free.
Do you love CLAY? Support us on Ko-fi and follow us on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook.
