"It also bothers me": Joao Fonseca calls for moderation from Brazilian fans after Rome Open defeat

Joao Fonseca called for moderation from the Brazilian crowd following his defeat in the second round of the Italian Open. The Brazilian spoke with ESPN Brasil after his defeat against Serbian player Hamad Medjedovic by 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(1), a match marked by the constant interruptions from the Brazilian crowd that attended to support him.

Since his breakthrough on Tour, Fonseca has become one of the crowd favourites and his matches have been marked by a fervent atmosphere. The Brazilian crowd has been characterised by its passion in supporting what has been their most outstanding male representative since Gustavo Kuerten, and the expectation he generates is beginning to become a problem due to the interruptions during his matches.

“Too many interruptions. I’m not going to say that was the reason for the loss, because it wasn’t. But the crowd really matters; Brazilian fans sometimes think it’s a football match,” he said to ESPN Brazil. “I love the crowd, but there has to be a small limit.”

The World No. 29 says goodbye to Rome in the second round, although there are still clay-court challenges remaining, with the Hamburg Open scheduled for next week – his final tournament before travelling to French Open.

The clash between former champions of the Next Gen ATP Finals had the crowd almost completely in favour of Fonseca. The fans constantly interrupted the young Serbian, who even had a particular celebration after the match, making the controversial ‘go to sleep’ gesture towards the spectators after defeating the South American.

Fonseca acknowledged that the noise and interruptions mid-match – or between serves – are not only a distraction for his rivals, but even for himself, which harms the spectacle. “It doesn’t only bother the player, it also bothers me. So, it’s just a request, but I still enjoy playing with the crowd, with the people cheering for me,” Fonseca mentioned.

The 19-year-old nevertheless leaves Rome with a place guaranteed as a seeded player at the French Open, which will be his second time among the 32 seeds at a Grand Slam. This means he will avoid any higher-ranked rival at least until a potential third round, clearing his path from the most dangerous opponents in the opening stages of the tournament.

Fonseca is currently on a streak of three consecutive defeats on clay courts, and has barely managed two victories in his last six matches on the surface. What is his most natural surface – faithful to the South American style – has not been especially fruitful this season, although he trusts in regaining his level in the upcoming challenges.

“Obviously, people will ask if João is more frustrated than usual. It’s about the opportunities—they’re coming fewer and fewer—but I’ve already identified that issue and I’m working hard to improve,” the 19-year-old player explained. “Another lesson, another chance to grow, different points. Tennis is great because the following week there’s another chance to go out there and play your best. So we move on—after a tough loss, we move on with our heads held high.”