This year marks the 5th edition of Roland-Garros Junior Series by Renault, bringing together the best junior talents from Latin America in Sao Paulo to compete for a wild card in Paris. Seeing the recent success of 2024 champions (Nauhany Silva and Luis Guto Miguel) on the global stage, how would you describe the value brought by this tournament to Brazilian juniors?
In Latin America, we have so many talented players, but it can be difficult because we don’t have many big tournaments nearby to help us climb the ITF rankings quickly. You must win a lot just to get into the major events. For me, Roland-Garros Junior Series by Renault was essential for my development. At the time, my ranking was quite far from qualifying for a Grand Slam, so this was my first experience playing against top junior talents. It allowed me to feel the pressure of a Grand Slam environment and compete against dominant players from other continents, like Europe. It’s a crucial tournament that helps Latin American players to achieve their dreams.
Wherever you play in the world, Brazilian fans are there cheering for you. How do you feel about that and how do you explain this deep passion they have for tennis?
It’s not just tennis! They love to follow someone who is achieving great things. I think that energy comes from football culture, they love to cheer and I love this vibe. It’s true that no matter where I play, there are always Brazilians in the stands. Seeing the sport grow in Brazil and seeing that deep love for the game is wonderful. The culture in Brazil is just super cool. We are loud, we are passionate, and when we see a ‘promise’ in a sport, the hype is massive. Brazil is a huge country, and while tennis isn’t always the most natural path for everyone, we have a history and legends like Guga. People in Brazil love to create a ‘vibe’, support their athletes and that energy is contagious. I felt that vibe at Roland-Garros Junior Series by Renault in Rio. It was the first time I heard people chanting my name, and it was incredibly cool. Tennis is growing in Brazil, and our culture of support is a unique strength.