The defending champion suffered a huge point loss, and Fonseca admitted after reflection, "Federer was right!"

Yesterday, as the defending champion, Fonseca was eliminated in the opening round of the ATP 250 Buenos Aires event. This 19-year-old Brazilian talent lost 250 points, causing his ranking to fall by four spots instantly.

After experiencing a first-round exit at the Australian Open earlier this year and now another early loss at the venue where he won last year, Fonseca reflected on these setbacks and admitted that his idol Federer’s advice was correct — he must balance matches and training, tactics and mentality, pressure and motivation to make greater progress.

“In the crucial moments of the third set, I tried to bring more intensity and energy, but today it wasn’t enough. I lacked confidence and self-belief,” Fonseca said. With so many Brazilian fans cheering loudly for him, he felt both motivated and pressured. He failed to balance this motivation and pressure properly, which is exactly what Federer had warned him about face-to-face.

Before this year’s Australian Open, Federer said in an interview in Melbourne that the Brazilian prospect Fonseca “reminds me of myself; now he needs to stay patient, seize opportunities, and unleash his full potential.”

“Fonseca is somewhat like me and also a bit like Sinner because he needs more time to learn when to hold back shots and when to go all out, striving to find that balance. Once he figures this out, his future will be limitless.”

Judging from yesterday’s match, Fonseca clearly did not achieve a good balance between power and consistency, motivation and pressure, which was a key reason for his defeat.

Federer also analyzed what makes this 19-year-old superstar special: “What sets him apart from many others is his energy — forehand, backhand, serve — and his ability to fight point by point to win. Watching that is truly impressive.”

Since 2023, Federer has closely followed Fonseca, who was still under the radar then. When Fonseca was 17, Federer’s investment company On managed to sign him. At that time, Fonseca was just an outstanding junior player who hadn’t yet competed in any Grand Slam events. That same year, Fonseca won the US Open junior title, establishing himself among the top juniors.

“I genuinely believe he is the kind of player who can achieve bigger victories,” Federer commented. In fact, besides Fonseca, Federer also signed Shelton early on, who is now ranked ninth in the world, showing Federer’s keen and accurate eye for talent.

Beyond tennis, Federer’s support for Fonseca also stems from his admiration for the Brazilian’s personality. “He’s always passionate, has a strong presence, and is a very likable character,” Federer added.

At the 2025 Laver Cup, Federer and Fonseca met, and their expressions and mannerisms were notably similar.

During their first meeting at the 2025 Laver Cup, Federer and Fonseca had a pleasant conversation. Fans even commented on their similar expressions, a fact Federer himself has acknowledged.

The connection between Fonseca and Federer goes beyond player and sponsor; they share a special bond in tennis. Last October, Fonseca won the title in Basel, Switzerland, which is considered Federer’s stronghold.

Due to this strong connection, reporters asked Federer if he might coach Fonseca in the future.

“Never say never! Although I’m very busy — I have four kids — so there’s no chance right now. But Edberg said the same thing,” Federer said, referring to how the Swedish tennis legend initially claimed he would never coach after retiring but later coached Federer from 2014 to 2015.

Since last October’s Paris Masters, Fonseca has suffered three consecutive defeats, a disappointing run for a player once highly anticipated.

Reflecting on his idol Federer’s advice, Fonseca feels he has gained some positive takeaways from recent losses and urgently needs to improve his serve and return. “Serve and return are crucial on any surface, and I must get better. The good news is I’ve already made significant improvements recently.”

Fonseca’s next tournament is in Rio de Janeiro, where he exited in the first round last year. Compared to the heavy pressure to hold serve in Buenos Aires, the upcoming event should be less stressful, and fans look forward to exciting performances from this Brazilian star.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Yun Juan Yun Shu)