Despite struggling with injuries in recent months, Joao Fonseca stepped up when the Brazilian team needed him the most. The highest-ranked men’s singles player from the country recorded a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory against Switzerland’s Dominic Stricker at the Davis Cup. This provided Brazil with the all-important lead in the matchup. But the victory meant something more to Fonseca, who got very emotional as the match concluded.
The 20-year-old was seen crying his heart out as he sat down after the match. The crowd cheered for him as hard as they could, but the tears just wouldn’t stop coming. Eventually, Fonseca waved to the crowd and exited the arena, handing Brazil the advantage. He admitted that his self-confidence was very low as he entered the tournament and wasn’t even sure whether he would play or not.
“It was a difficult year,” he said in an interview after the match. “I suffered from a lack of self-confidence and a few injuries. I didn’t come here at 100%, I couldn’t even guarantee that I could play, but this moment, playing Davis Cup for Brazil, means a lot to me. I gave my best, and it’s a very important win for me and the team.”
Fonseca then remarked that a victory like this could have an impact on the rest of his career, not just the ongoing season.
“Without a doubt, this victory can give me a lot of confidence, but also a lot of maturity. Not just for the rest of the year, but for the rest of my career,” he added.
The Brazilian’s season has pretty much gone downhill since the French Open. He had a terrific run to the quarterfinals in Paris, defeating Novak Djokovic in the process. But injuries haven’t left his side ever since. Fonseca first sustained a right shoulder injury that forced him to pull out of the Eastbourne Open.