“I wish I had been Roger”: Next Gen ATP Finals star Joao Fonseca recalls Federer’s Wimbledon final defeat against Djokovic

The Next Gen ATP Finals are getting ready to begin with an exciting line-up of rising players. Brazilian Joao Fonseca was the latest to join, and upon his arrival in Jeddah, he remembered watching the 2019 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on TV.

At that time, Fonseca was just 13 years old and was watching one of the most memorable Grand Slam finals of recent times. In that epic match, Federer – 38 years old and with 20 major titles to his name – squandered two match points against Djokovic, which could have earned him his 21st major title. Nole made a remarkable comeback, securing his 16th Grand Slam title.

Fonseca looks back on Federer-Djokovic epic

The 18-year-old Brazilian started the season ranked No. 727 and made a remarkable rise to No. 145, his career-high ranking. He first made a name for himself in February of this year when he received a wildcard for the ATP 500 Rio Open and defeated Arthur Fils and former champion Cristian Garin on his way to the quarterfinals.

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Fonseca has already attracted strong attention from sponsors, and he is now one of the visible faces of the ON brand tour (which is partly owned by Roger Federer himself), a brand that also sponsors five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek and American Ben Shelton.

When asked by the 2023 US Open junior champion about a match he wished he could have played, he mentioned the iconic Wimbledon final between Federer and Djokovic. "The one in 2019, when Roger had match point against Djokovic at Wimbledon. I wish I could be Roger, so I could make an ace at 40/15 [on championship point]. I want to change history!"

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Additionally, the Brazilian was asked which three people in history he would like to have dinner with, and he again mentioned the Swiss Maestro. "I would say Roger [Federer]. I’ve not met Roger yet, but he's my idol in tennis. [Basketballer] Kobe Bryant: his type of play was incredible. Then I would say my dad, because he would help me ask the things I want to ask, but which are difficult to express sometimes in English."