Follow us on Google Discover Andy Roddick and Joao Fonseca met for the first time earlier this year at the US Open.
Meeting in New York, Roddick and Fonseca found themselves on opposite sides of the court during US Open Fan Week.
Roddick and Alex Michelsen took on Fonseca and Juan Martin del Potro in a South America vs North America exhibition match.
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
It was the South Americans who emerged victorious 11-9 when Roddick hit a Fonseca forehand into the net.
Reacting to Fonseca’s win in Basel, Roddick has reflected on his first impressions of the Brazilian from earlier this year.
Andy Roddick ‘liked everything’ about Joao Fonseca and says he’s already a locker room favorite
Speaking on the latest episode of ‘Served with Andy Roddick’, the 43-year-old shared what he really thought about Fonseca when they met.
“This guy is the real deal. I had the pleasure of meeting him in New York this year, engaged, looks you in the eye,” said Roddick.
“I like everything about him, you can always kind of tell, with how the other players act around someone, someone who came out with that much hype, is that young… I felt a lot of push back in the locker room when I was in his position, probably because I was a p— or still am one, but he doesn’t seem like that, he seems really nice.
“It seems like the other players really enjoy being around him, so props to him.”
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Roddick proceeded to comment on Fonseca’s efforts in Basel, where he picked up the second title of his career.
“Joao Fonseca. We’ve been wanting it; everyone’s been ready for it. Top 30 in the world,” he said.
“Imagine breaking out like he did and getting the name value and name recognition that he did at the beginning of the year.
“Doing casual things like being the youngest person in 25 years to reach the third round of the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back, and people going, ‘He hasn’t progressed like we thought’… He’s pretty young.
2025 French Open – Joao Fonseca lost in 3R to Jack Draper2025 Wimbledon – Joao Fonseca lost in 3R to Nicolas Jarry
“Winning in Basel last week, in the top 30, sending a message going into the next year, and also, we have to remember, he’s going to get some time off.
“He started by winning Next Gen finals in December, great, fantastic. So he’s been playing 12 months straight.
“Props to Joao Fonseca.”
Fonseca isn’t done yet in 2025, however, as he headed straight to Paris after his win in Basel…
Joao Fonseca beats Denis Shapovalov in Basel rematch
Last week, Denis Shapovalov was booed off the court during his defeat to Fonseca in the Swiss Indoors semifinals.
They met again in the first round of the Paris Masters on Tuesday, as the Canadian hoped for a better result.
It wasn’t to be, however, as Shapovalov lost in three sets, 7-5, 4-6, 3-6.
Photo by Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images
Advancing to the second round, Fonseca has risen a further four places in the ‘Live ATP Rankings’, and now sits 24th in the world.
RankNameCountryPoints20Tommy PaulUSA2,10021Francisco CerundoloArgentina2,03522Flavio CobolliItaly2,02523Denis ShapovalovCanada1,91324Joao FonsecaBrazil1,66525Tallon GriekspoorNetherlands1,61526Luciano DarderiItaly1,60927Arthur RindernkechFrance1,54028Frances TiafoeUSA1,51029Cameron NorrieGreat Britain1,508Snapshot of the Live ATP Rankings
Looking to close the gap to those ahead of him, Fonseca will return to take on Russia’s Karen Khachanov in round two.
Khachanov is one of three former champions competing at this year’s Paris Masters, and will be a tough out for the young Brazilian.
Former champions competing at the 2025 Paris MastersAlexander Zverev (2024)Daniil Medvedev (2020)Karen Khachanov (2018)
Should Fonseca make his way past Khachanov, he’d meet either Alex de Minaur or Gabriel Diallo in the last 16.
It won’t be easy, but Fonseca will no doubt have his sights set on winning his maiden Masters 1000 title in the French capital.
With an ATP 250 title (2025 Argentina Open) and an ATP 500 title (2025 Swiss Indoors) to his name, winning at the Masters 1000 level is a logical next step for the talented teenager.
He won’t want to get ahead of himself thinking about the title just yet, however, as he now focuses on his second-round match with Khachanov on Wednesday, October 29.